lesser

American  

[les-er] / ˈlɛs ər /

adjective

1. smaller, as in size or importance; inferior.

   a lesser evil.

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adverb

1. less.

lesser British  

/ ˈlɛsə /

adjective

1. not as great in quantity, size, or worth

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Etymology

Origin of lesser

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English lasser, lesser; see less, -er ⁴

Compare meaning

How does lesser compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• lesser vs. lessor

Explanation

Use the adjective lesser to describe something that's smaller than or inferior to something else. A lesser singer might sound fine in the context of a large chorus, but a solo performance could be tricky. A young car thief might be charged with a lesser crime because of his age — trespassing instead of larceny, for example. He's also likely to end up with a lesser punishment in that case. Sometimes people talk about "the lesser of two evils," by which they mean the less bad of two bad choices, or describe something as "lesser-known," like a rarely studied poet or an unacknowledged scientist.

Example Sentences

Then it’s less of a surprise and almost looks like it flows logically from when the court did it in a lesser way.

From Slate • Jun. 1, 2026

All of this contributes to churn, which has made streaming companies a lesser cash cow than the cable setup of old.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

Multiple studies since then have also identified a correlation between a woman’s use of antidepressants during pregnancy and her child’s later diagnosis of autism, and to a lesser extent, ADHD.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

But his lesser narrative skills, and his tendency to minimize Spartan errors, make that theme hard to discern in his works.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

After various lesser mishaps, Meg was finished at last, and by the united exertions of the entire family Jo’s hair was got up and her dress on.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Related Words

• insignificant
• minor