lesser

 
Pronunciation: /ˈlɛsə/

adjective

[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 rank or quality: you’re looking down your nose at us lesser mortals
  • used in names of animals and plants which are smaller than similar kinds, e.g. lesser spotted woodpecker, lesser celandine.

Phrases

the lesser evil (or the lesser of two evils)

the less unpleasant of two undesirable possibilities: authoritarianism may seem a lesser evil than abject poverty

Origin:

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