# lesser

Pronunciation: US say "LES-ur" /ˈlɛsɚ/; UK say "LES-uh" /ˈlɛsə/

## Adjective

1. Smaller in size, value, or importance than the other of two things being compared.
   - Simple: Smaller or less important when you compare two things.
   - _Faced with two bad options, she picked the lesser harm._
   - _The treaty was signed by the king and several lesser nobles._
2. Comparative form of little. — comparative form of little: more little
   - Simple: Comparative of little. Use it to say something is smaller or less important than another.
   - _Of the two debts, she paid off the lesser one first._
   - _The judge gave him a lesser sentence because he confessed._

## Noun

3. The one of smaller size, value, or importance among the things being compared.
   - Simple: The one that is smaller, weaker, or less important of two things.
   - _Between the two proposals, the board approved the lesser as a safer bet._
   - _She never settled for the lesser when excellence was within reach._

## Origin

Formed from "less" combined with the suffix "-er".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/lesser (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).