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lesser

Syllabification: (less·er)

Pronunciation: /ˈlesər/

Definition of lesser

[attributive]

not so great or important as the other or the rest:he was convicted of a lesser assault charge they nest mostly in Alaska and to a lesser extent in Siberia
lower in terms of rank or quality:the lesser aristocracy you’re looking down your nose at us lesser mortals
used in names of animals and plants that are smaller than similar kinds, e.g., lesser spotted woodpecker, lesser celandine.

Phrases

a/the lesser evil (or the lesser of two evils): the less harmful or unpleasant of two bad choices or possibilities:authoritarianism may seem a lesser evil than abject poverty

Middle English: a double comparative, from less + -er²

On the punctuation of lesser in compound adjectives, see well¹ (usage).

Definition of lesser in the British & World English dictionary

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