# fewest

/ˈfjuəst/ (US) · /fjˈuːəst/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fewest
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

the smallest number of things or people. You use it when you are comparing three or more groups and want to talk about the one with the lowest count.

For teachers: the superlative form of 'few'; representing the smallest number of countable units within a comparison of three or more sets.

## Examples

- The team with the fewest points loses the game.
- Among all the local schools, this one has the fewest students per classroom, allowing for more individual attention.
- The candidate who receives the fewest votes in the first round of the election is automatically eliminated from the subsequent runoff.

## Pitfalls

- Not "the fewest water" but "the least water" — Fewest is used only with countable nouns; use 'least' for uncountable substances or abstract concepts.

## Usage notes

- Superlative adjective used with countable nouns. Always preceded by the definite article 'the' when used as a determiner.

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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.