# fewer

/ˈfjuɝ/ (US) · /fjˈuːɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fewer
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a smaller number

determiner · CEFR B1

a smaller number of people or things.

For teachers: a smaller number of discrete, countable entities; functions as the comparative of 'few'.

- 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.

### 2. a smaller number of them

pronoun · CEFR B2

a smaller number of people or things already mentioned.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- 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 EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.