Less vs. Lesser — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Less and Lesser
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Compare with Definitions
Less
Not as great in amount or quantity
Had less time to spend with the family.
Lesser
Lesser, from Eliezer (Hebrew: אֱלִיעֶזֶר, Modern: Eli'ezer, Tiberian: ʼĔlîʻézer, "Help/Court of my God"), is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Adolf Lesser (1851–1926), German physician Aleksander Lesser (1814–1884), Polish painter and art critic Anton Lesser (born 1952), British actor Axel Lesser (born 1946), East German cross country skier Edmund Lesser (1852–1918), German dermatologist Erik Lesser (born 1988), German biathlete Gabriele Lesser (born 1960), German historian and journalist George Lesser, American musician Gerald S. Lesser (1926–2010), American psychologist Henry Lesser (born 1963), German footballer J Lesser (born 1970), American musician Len Lesser (1922–2011), American actor Louis Lesser (born 1916), American real estate developer Matt Lesser, Connecticut politician Mike Lesser (born 1943), British mathematical philosopher and political activist Milton Lesser or Stephen Marlowe (1928–2008), American author Norman Lesser (1902–1985), Anglican bishop and Archbishop of New Zealand Otto Lesser (1830–1887), German astronomer Rika Lesser (born 1953), American poet Robert Lesser (born 1942), American actor Rosa Lesser, Austrian luger Ryan Lesser, Rhode Island video game designer Sam Lesser or Sam Russell (1915–2010), British journalist and Spanish Civil War veteran Sol Lesser (1890–1980), American film producer Stephen A. Lesser (born 1944), American architect Virginia Lesser, American statistician Wendy Lesser (born 1952), American author, editor and critic Werner Lesser (1932–2005), East German ski jumperLesser is also a given name.
Less
Lower in importance, esteem, or rank
No less a person than the ambassador.
Lesser
Smaller in amount, value, or importance, especially in a comparison between two things
Chose the lesser evil.
Less
Consisting of a smaller number.
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Lesser
Of a smaller size than other, similar forms
The lesser anteater.
Less
With the deduction of; minus
Five less two is three.
Lesser
Less. Used before a participle
A lesser-known writer.
Less
To a smaller extent, degree, or frequency
Less happy.
Less expensive.
Lesser
One that is lower in importance, rank, magnitude, or degree
The lesser of two evils.
Less
A smaller amount
She received less than she asked for.
Lesser
Of two (or, rarely, more than two) things: the smaller in size (littler), in value, in importance etc.
Lesser panda, lesser yellowlegs''
Less
Something not as important as something else
People have been punished for less.
Lesser
A thing that is of smaller size, value, importance etc.
The lesser of two evils
The greater sand hills increasingly do not migrate, but almost all lessers do.
Less
Comparative of little
I slept even less last night than I did the night before.
I like him less each time I see him.
Lesser
Less; smaller; inferior.
God made . . . the lesser light to rule the night.
The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace.
The larger here, and there the lesser lambs.
By the same reason may a man, in the state of nature, punish the lesser breaches of the law.
Less
Used for constructing syntactic diminutive comparatives of adjectives and adverbs.
Randal is less welcome than Rachel but as her spouse we should invite them both.
This gadget is less useful than I expected.
I'm not any less happy for being on my own.
Lesser
Less.
Less
To a smaller extent or degree.
The grammar book was less than (that is, not at all) helpful.
That this is a positive one makes it no less a stereotype, and therefore unacceptable.
Lesser
Of less size or importance;
The lesser anteater
The lesser of two evils
Less
(Now chiefly of numbers or dimensions) little; of inferior size, degree or extent; smaller, lesser.
Lesser
Smaller in size or amount or value;
The lesser powers of Europe
The lesser anteater
Less
A smaller amount of; not as much.
No less than eight pints of beer.
I have less tea than coffee.
You have even less sense than an inanimate object.
Less
Fewer; a smaller number of.
There are less people here now.
Now there are three less green bottles hanging on the wall.
Less
Minus; not including
It should then tax all of that as personal income, less the proportion of the car's annual mileage demonstrably clocked up on company business.
Less
(archaic) To make less; to lessen.
Less
(archaic) Lesser; smaller.
Less
A smaller amount or quantity.
Less is better.
I have less to do today than yesterday.
Less
Unless
Less
Unless.
Less
Smaller; not so large or great; not so much; shorter; inferior; as, a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value; in less time than before.
Thus in less [time] than a hundred years from the coming of Augustine, all England became Christian.
Less
Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful.
Less
A smaller portion or quantity.
The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
Less
The inferior, younger, or smaller.
The less is blessed of the better.
Less
To make less; to lessen.
Less
(comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree;
Of less importance
Less time to spend with the family
A shower uses less water
Less than three years old
Less
(usually preceded by `no') lower in quality;
No less than perfect
Less
(usually preceded by `no') lower in esteem;
No less a person than the king himself
Less
(nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer;
Less than three weeks
No less than 50 people attended
In 25 words or less
Less
Used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs;
Less interesting
Less expensive
Less quickly
Less
Comparative of little;
She walks less than she should
He works less these days
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