British Overseas Territory

British Overseas Territory

A British Overseas Territory (pronunciation: /ˈbrɪtɪʃ oʊvərˈsiːz ˈtɛrɪtɔːri/) is one of fourteen territories under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United Kingdom. They are remnants of the British Empire that have not been granted independence or have voted to remain British territories. These territories do not form part of the United Kingdom and, with the exception of Gibraltar, are not part of the European Union.

Etymology

The term "British Overseas Territory" was introduced by the British Nationality Act 1981 to replace the term "British Crown Colony".

Related Terms

• Crown Dependencies: These are three island territories off the coast of Great Britain that are self-governing possessions of the British Crown.
• Commonwealth Realm: A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state in which Queen Elizabeth II is the reigning constitutional monarch and head of state.
• British Empire: The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states.

See Also

• List of British Overseas Territories
• British Nationality Act 1981
• British Empire
• Commonwealth Realm
• Crown Dependencies

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