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

Unlike those of so many European cities destroyed by war, top-down planning or the vicissitudes of taste, Prague’s historical districts—the Old, New, Castle and Lesser towns—are among the best preserved in all of Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Iran also maintains military positions on nearby islands such as Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs that overlook the shipping lanes used by tankers entering and leaving the Gulf.

From Barron's • Mar. 9, 2026

Ian Lesser believes Donald Trump's focus on Greenland, rather than Alaska, suggests more of an interest in economic security, rather than security in the traditional sense.

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2026

Mendelsohn and Lesser have the luxury of playing to type here, with the former channeling his version of Imperial unctuousness and the latter lending a professorial chill to his acceptance of unconscionable orders.

From Salon • Apr. 22, 2025

Lesser butlers will abandon their professional being for the private one at the least provocation.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Related Words

• insignificant
• minor