fewer
adj.adj. a smaller number of people or things. You use this when you can count the items one by one, like books or apples.
adj. a smaller number of discrete, countable units. Often used in the comparative degree to contrast with 'more'.
There are fewer students in the classroom today.
The new supermarket layout resulted in fewer delays at the checkout counters during the morning rush.
Environmental policies aimed at reducing carbon footprints have led to fewer petrol-powered vehicles on the road as consumers transition toward electric alternatives.
From Middle English fewere, equivalent to few + -er.
Used exclusively with plural countable nouns.
fewer waterless waterFewer is only for countable items; use 'less' for uncountable substances like water or sand.