fewest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fewest" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the smallest number or least quantity in a comparison among a group. Example: "Out of all the participants, she received the fewest votes in the election."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But now it's about who makes the fewest mistakes and has the right mentality".

The Guardian - Sport

They have also mustered the fewest shots on target (31).

The Guardian - Sport

Bale came in for criticism for his performance in the midweek Champions League semi-final first leg against Juventus, with match statistics showing the world's most expensive signing had the fewest touches and made the fewest passes of any Madrid player.

The Guardian - Sport

Figures dating from 2012 show that Dresden, one of Germany's 15 biggest cities, has the fewest foreigners, at about 7%.

The Guardian

Palace arrived at the City of Cardiff Stadium with the fewest goals in the league but filled their boots in impressive fashion.

The Guardian - Sport

They dominated across the field, allowing Sydney inside their 50 just five times - their fewest entries in a quarter since mid-2013.

The Guardian - Sport

Senior managers in the NHS – who have had the fewest real-terms cuts in spending – are most positive about government plans for their sector (62%), despite also saying that dealing with reform is a major challenge.

The Guardian

The alternative requiring fewest beds would mean 10,000 more GPs and a near doubling of district nurses and home helps.

The Guardian

They had also put in the lowest number of crosses, hit the fewest corners and conceded the most shots at their own goal.

The Guardian - Sport

As Enders analyst Toby Syfret points out: "As the European country with much the highest rights fees per game, much the fewest televised top league games, highest package prices and by far the biggest outlay on player wages, the current PL auction mechanism gives the UK consumer little cause for cheer".

The Guardian

A report released on August 25th by Henley & Partners, a consultancy, shows that Britons have the fewest visa restrictions of the 190-odd countries (and territories) for which data are available.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fewest", ensure you are comparing countable items. For non-countable items, use "least" instead. For example, "fewest errors" vs. "least effort".

Common error

Avoid using "fewest" with non-countable nouns. The word "least" is appropriate for mass nouns; using "fewest" in that context is a common error. Always consider if the noun can be counted.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fewest" is as a determiner. It modifies nouns to indicate the smallest quantity or number among a group of countable items. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Formal & Business

27%

Science

27%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "fewest" is a determiner used to indicate the smallest number of countable items. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and commonly used. It's particularly useful in contexts where comparisons are made, and the minimum quantity needs to be highlighted. While there are more formal alternatives like "minimum number of", "fewest" maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse situations. When using "fewest", ensure that you are referring to countable items; for non-countable items, use "least". Ludwig's examples highlight how "fewest" appears often in News & Media and business domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

least number of

Replaces "fewest" with a more explicit phrase, specifying the 'least' amount but is more verbose.

lowest quantity of

Highlights that quantity is "lowest", can be used when comparing metrics.

minimum quantity of

Emphasizes the 'minimum' amount, suitable for formal contexts.

smallest amount of

Focuses on the size, indicating the 'smallest' quantity.

bare minimum of

Emphasizes that something is reduced to its 'bare minimum'.

tiniest number of

Uses 'tiniest' for emphasis, suitable for informal contexts.

most limited number of

Highlights the "limited" nature, suggesting constraints or scarcity.

scarcest amount of

Indicates that the amount is "scarcest", implies rarity.

negligible amount of

Stresses that the amount is so small it is practically "negligible".

a handful of

Represents very small quantity, uses a more idiomatic expression.

FAQs

How do I use "fewest" in a sentence?

Use "fewest" to indicate the smallest number of countable items in a group. For example, "This option requires the "fewest resources"" or "Which method has the "fewest steps"?"

When should I use "fewest" versus "least"?

"Fewest" should be used with countable nouns (e.g., "fewest errors"), while "least" should be used with non-countable nouns (e.g., "least amount of effort"). It's about countability.

What is the difference between "fewest" and "least"?

"Fewest" refers to the smallest number of items that can be counted individually, whereas "least" indicates the smallest quantity or degree of something that cannot be counted, such as effort or time.

Are there formal alternatives to using the word "fewest"?

Yes, in formal contexts, you could use phrases like "minimum number of" or "smallest quantity of" to convey a similar meaning with greater precision.