lesser

1 of 2

adjective

less·​er ˈle-sər 

comparative of little entry 1

: of less size, quality, degree, or significance : of lower status

lesser

2 of 2

adverb

: less

lesser-known

Synonyms

Adjective

• less
• smaller
• lower

Examples of lesser in a Sentence

Adjective

The winner will receive $100; lesser amounts will be given to three runners-up.

A lesser man than he might have simply given up.

She agreed to plead guilty to a lesser charge.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Toronto’s Fred VanVleet appears to be the top target, but Miami’s Kyle Lowry, Utah’s Mike Conley and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier have been linked to the team at various points. —Staff Writer follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2023

The story of 2022 (and 2021 to a lesser extent) was energy. —Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 31 Jan. 2023

Adverb

This is when the males venture out of their burrows just before dark in search of a willing, larger and lesser seen female. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025

Even though people weren’t flying as much, everyone became more familiar with digital tools—Zoom, but also Slack, Teams, Google Docs—that might once have been lesser known. —Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 25 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lesser

• lesser celandine
• lesser cornstalk borer
• lesser one-horned rhino
• lesser one-horned rhinoceros
• lesser panda
• lesser peach tree borer
• lesser yellowlegs
• to a greater/lesser degree/extent
• to a greater or lesser degree/extent

Rhymes for lesser

• dresser
• lessor
• presser
• pressor
• stressor
• aggressor
• assessor
• compressor
• confessor
• depressor
• hairdresser
• necessar

Kids Definition

lesser

1 of 2 adjective

less·​er ˈles-ər 

: of smaller size or importance

lesser

2 of 2 adverb

: less entry 2

Legal Definition

lesser

adjective

less·​er ˈle-sər 

: of less size, quality, degree, or significance

specifically : of lower criminal liability

duress has been held a good defense to such lesser crimes as robbery, burglary and malicious mischief

—W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.