A Briton is a person from Great Britain, the island that includes England, Scotland, and Wales. When you read about “ancient Britons,” the text refers to people who lived on this island long ago, before the Romans arrived. When you read about “modern Britons,” it usually means people who live in Great Britain today.

People use the word more in writing than in everyday conversation. In casual speech, people usually say “British person” instead. You might read that “Britons celebrated the coronation” or “ancient Britons built Stonehenge.”

The term can sometimes cause confusion because Great Britain (the island) is different from the United Kingdom (the country, which also includes Northern Ireland). Briton generally refers to someone from Great Britain. If you're writing a history essay about the people of medieval England, Scotland, or Wales, calling them Britons can work. If you're talking about your friend's family who lives in London, you'd probably just say they're British.