(formerly) the United Kingdom and the territories under its control, which reached its greatest extent at the end of World War I when it embraced over a quarter of the world's population and more than a quarter of the world's land surface
British Empire in American English
Obsolete, British
the United Kingdom and the British dominions, colonies, etc.
Examples of 'British Empire' in a sentence
British Empire
Other countries now in the British Empire may also go their own way.
Leasor, James TANK OF SERPENTS (2001)
Not to mention Alexander the Great -- and the British Empire.
Shah, Idries KARA KUSH (2001)
Oh yes, soldiering on... "For some reason Peter and I regularly communicated in this obsolescent patois of the British Empire.
Howatch, Susan ABSOLUTE TRUTHS (2001)
"Free access among colonial countries is a perk of the former British Empire.