least important

USAGE SUMMARY

"least important" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an adjective used to refer to something that is considered to be of the lowest level of importance. For example: "I identified the three most important tasks of the day, but this last one was the least important."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

That's the least important point.

The New Yorker

She's also the least important.

The Guardian - Film

And third and least important is brains.

The New York Times - Science

The least important factor was cost".

The New York Times

Least important is the party, if there is one.

The New York Times

What's the least important part of a sentence?

The Guardian - Books

Choose the least important day in your life.

The New York Times

It's probably the least important thing in the world now.

The New York Times - Sports

The Fed was one, but it was the least important.

The New York Times

Finally, and by no means least important, Claire was funny.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For these participants, kissing was least important during sex.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When prioritizing tasks, clearly identify and address the most critical items first, relegating those of "least important" to the end to ensure efficient resource allocation.

Common error

Avoid treating items labeled as "least important" as completely unnecessary or dismissible. They may still hold some value or relevance, even if minimal, and should be considered, albeit with less urgency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "least important" functions as an adjective phrase used to modify a noun, indicating that the noun it modifies is of minimal significance or priority. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

30%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "least important" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate minimal significance or priority. As Ludwig AI confirms, this adjective phrase effectively designates the item with the lowest importance among a group. Analysis of usage patterns reveals its frequent occurrence in News & Media and Science contexts. While it's crucial to identify "least important" elements for efficient decision-making, remember that they might still hold some value and shouldn't be disregarded entirely. Instead of "least important", consider alternatives like "minimally significant" or "of little relevance" to more precisely convey your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

least essential

Indicates that something is not vital or necessary.

relatively unimportant

Specifies that something is not important when compared to other things.

of little relevance

Indicates that something is not pertinent or applicable.

secondary importance

Suggests that something is important, but not as much as other things.

of minor consequence

Highlights that the impact or result is small.

minimally significant

Emphasizes a lack of statistical or practical importance.

subordinate to

Highlights that something is lower in rank or importance than something else.

marginally relevant

Suggests a slight connection or pertinence, but not a strong one.

not a priority

Focuses on the lack of urgency or importance in a set of tasks or considerations.

peripherally related

Implies a connection that is not central or direct.

FAQs

How can I use "least important" in a sentence?

You can use "least important" to describe something that has minimal significance compared to other things. For example: "Among all the project requirements, meeting the deadline is the most critical, while formatting is the "least important"."

What's the difference between "less important" and "least important"?

"Less important" compares two items, indicating one is of lower priority than the other. "Least important" identifies the single item with the absolute lowest priority among a group of three or more.

Which is the correct spelling, "least important" or "lesat important"?

"Least important" is the correct spelling. "Lesat important" is a misspelling.

What can I say instead of "least important"?

Alternatives to "least important" include "minimally significant", "of minor consequence", or "not a priority" depending on the specific context.