Word
fewer
Phoneticsfew·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfjuɝ/
UK/fjˈuːɐ/
Definitions
01a smaller number
B1 · Intermediate
det. a smaller number of people or things.
det. a smaller number of discrete, countable entities; functions as the comparative of 'few'.
Español:menos
“There are fewer students in the classroom today because of the snow.”
“The new policy resulted in fewer complaints from customers, suggesting that the recent service improvements were effective.”
Usage
Always used with plural countable nouns.
Pitfall
There are less people in the office today.
There are fewer people in the office today.
Use 'fewer' for things you can count (people, cars, books) and 'less' for things you cannot count (water, time, money).
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a smaller number of them
B2 · Upper Intermediate
pron. a smaller number of people or things already mentioned.
pron. a smaller number of entities, functioning as a pronoun to avoid repetition of a previously mentioned plural noun.
“Many people applied for the job, but fewer were invited for an interview.”
“While dozens of candidates expressed initial interest in the position, significantly fewer actually submitted a completed application by the deadline.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “fewer” in context.
Confusables
Fewer modifies plural countable nouns, while less modifies singular uncountable nouns.
RememberFewer is for things you count; less is for things you measure.
Etymology
From Middle English fewere, equivalent to few + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/fewer
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0