🇬🇧🇨🇳 lesser - 较小的 : English Lesson

Meaning of "lesser" ("较小的"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

"Lesser" means smaller, not as important, or not as strong when you compare two things. If you have a big cookie and a small cookie, the small cookie is the lesser cookie. It doesn’t mean it’s bad—it just means it’s not as big or not as powerful as the other thing.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

The lesser problem with my room is the smell; the greater problem is that I can’t find the floor.

The lesser disaster was my hair this morning; the greater disaster was my attempt to fix it.

The pencil’s lesser talent is writing; its greater talent is rolling off the desk during every test.

This lesser villain only steals socks; the greater villain hides one sock from every pair.

In science, there’s a real animal called the "lesser panda"—it’s another name for the red panda, which is only lesser in size, not in cuteness.

Late, a child found a cold cat in the lesser light and had two blankets: a thick warm one and a thinner, lesser one. The child wrapped the lesser blanket round the cat, held the lesser body to their chest, and watched the lesser fur relax. The cat purred; the child slept, small hand warm and happy.

This word is at the C1 level, which means it’s part of advanced English. It’s used in sophisticated conversations, professional settings, and academic discussions. Words at this level help you express yourself fluently and precisely in nuanced situations.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.