lesser
adjective /ˈlesə(r)/
/ˈlesər/
[only before noun]Idioms - people of lesser importance
- They were all involved to a greater or lesser degree (= some were more involved than others).
- The law was designed to protect wives, and, to a lesser extent, children.
- He was encouraged to plead guilty to the lesser offence.
- (humorous) He doesn’t even acknowledge us lesser mortals (= people who are not as important or powerful).
- A lesser woman would have given up.
- (specialist) used in the names of some types of animals, birds and plants that are smaller than similar kinds
- a lesser black-backed gull
opposite greater
Word OriginMiddle English: a double comparative, from less + -er.
Idioms
the lesser of two evils | the lesser evil
- the less unpleasant of two unpleasant choicesTopics Preferences and decisionsc2