Definition

1. Adjective:
   • A smaller number of: "Fewer" is the comparative form of "few," used specifically with plural count nouns to indicate a smaller quantity compared to another amount or a previous time.

Usage

• Key Rule: Use "fewer" with nouns that can be counted individually (count nouns). It is often used in comparative structures.
• Common Contexts: Comparing quantities, statistics, or observable decreases in number.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • This year, we have fewer students in the class. (A direct comparison of the number of students.)
  • Please try to make fewer mistakes on your next assignment. (Used with the countable noun "mistakes".)
  • The new policy resulted in fewer complaints. (Indicates a decrease in the countable number of complaints.)

Advanced Usage

• "The fewer, the better": An idiom expressing that a smaller number is more desirable.
  • When it comes to problems, the fewer, the better.
• Formal vs. Common Error: In formal writing and prescribed usage, "fewer" is distinguished from "less." "Less" is used with mass nouns (uncountable quantities like "water," "sand," "traffic").
  • Correct: Fewer cars on the road means less traffic. ("Cars" is countable; "traffic" is uncountable.)

Variants and Related Words

• Few (adj): A small number of.
• Fewest (adj): The superlative form of "few," meaning the smallest number of.

Synonyms

• A smaller number of
• Not as many

Related Phrases

• Fewer than: Used to specify a number that is not reached.
  • The attendance was fewer than fifty people.
• No fewer than: An expression used to emphasize that the number is surprisingly large or at least a certain amount.
  • The event was attended by no fewer than five hundred guests.

Adjective

1. (comparative of `few' used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of
   • fewer birds came this year
   • the birds are fewer this year
   • fewer trains were late