less

[ les ]

/ lɛs /

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adverb, a comparative of little, with least as superlative.

to a smaller extent, amount, or degree: less exact.

most certainly not (often preceded by much or still): He could barely pay for his own lodging, much less for that of his friend.

in any way different; other: He is nothing less than a thief.

adjective, a comparative of little, with least as superlative.

smaller in size, amount, degree, etc.; not so large, great, or much: less money; less speed.

lower in consideration, rank, or importance: no less a person than the manager.

fewer: less than a dozen.

noun

a smaller amount or quantity: Hundreds of soldiers arrived, but less of them remained.

something inferior or not as important: He was tortured for less.

preposition

minus; without: a year less two days; six dollars less tax.

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Idioms for less

less than, by far short of being; not in the least; hardly at all: The job is less than perfect.

Origin of less

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English lǣs (adverb), lǣssa (adjective); cognate with Old Frisian lês (adverb), lêssa (adjective); see least

synonym study for less

4. See small.

words often confused with less

Even though less has been used before plural nouns ( less words; less men ) since the time of King Alfred, many modern usage guides say that only fewer can be used in such contexts. Less, they say, should modify singular mass nouns ( less sugar; less money ) and singular abstract nouns ( less honesty; less love ). It should modify plural nouns only when they suggest combination into a unit, group, or aggregation: less than $50 (a sum of money); less than three miles (a unit of distance). With plural nouns specifying individuals or readily distinguishable units, the guides say that fewer is the only proper choice: fewer words; fewer men; no fewer than 31 of the 50 states.
Modern standard English practice does not reflect this distinction. When followed by than, less occurs at least as often as fewer in modifying plural nouns that are not units or groups, and the use of less in this construction is increasing in all varieties of English: less than eight million people; no less than 31 of the 50 states. When not followed by than, fewer is more frequent only in formal written English, and in this construction also the use of less is increasing: This year we have had less crimes, less accidents, and less fires than in any of the last five years.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH less

fewer, less (see confusables note at the current entry)

Definition for less (2 of 2)

-less

an adjective suffix meaning “without” (childless; peerless), and in adjectives derived from verbs, indicating failure or inability to perform or be performed (resistless; tireless).

Origin of -less

Middle English -les,Old English -lēas, special use of lēas free from, without, false; cognate with Old Norse lauss,German los,loose

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for less

Submission is less a novel of ideas than a political book, and of the most subversive kind.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President|Pierre Assouline|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Back in New York, the slow pace and inward focus of her yoga practice was less fulfilling.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
For many years afterward it was a never-ending topic of conversation, and is more or less talked of even to this day.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
No one wants to align with less freedom at a time like this.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The pulps brought new readers to serious fiction, making it less intimidating with alluring art and low prices.
How Pulp Fiction Saved Literature|Wendy Smith|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In less than ten minutes, the bivouac was broken up, and our little army on the march.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
He was too drowsy to hold the thought more than a moment in his mind, much less to reflect upon it.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
He did believe you, more or less, and what you said fell in with his own impressions—strange impressions that they were, poor man!
Confidence|Henry James
One would not have wanted her white neck a mite less full or her beautiful arms more slender.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
With childlike confidence he follows the advice of some more or less honest dealer.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills

British Dictionary definitions for less (1 of 2)

less

/ (lɛs) /

determiner

the comparative of little (def. 1) less sugar; less spirit than before
(as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural)she has less than she needs; the less you eat, the less you want

(usually preceded by no) lower in rank or importanceno less a man than the president; St James the Less

no less informal used to indicate surprise or admiration, often sarcastic, at the preceding statementshe says she's been to Italy, no less

less of to a smaller extent or degreewe see less of John these days; less of a success than I'd hoped