less ‧ er /ˈlesə $ -ər/ BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
1 . formal not as large, as important, or as much as something else OPP greater :
They originally asked for $5 million, but finally settled for a lesser sum.
to a lesser extent/degree
This was true in Madrid and, to a lesser extent, Valencia and Seville.
⇨ lesser mortals at ↑ mortal 2 , ⇨ to a greater or lesser extent at ↑ extent (1)
2 . the lesser of two evils also the lesser evil the less unpleasant or harmful of two unpleasant choices
3 . technical used in the names of some types of animal, bird, or plant that are slightly smaller than the main type
—lesser adverb :
the lesser-known artists of the period
one of Glasgow’s lesser used venues