least understanding of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "least understanding of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has the lowest level of comprehension or knowledge about a particular subject or situation. Example: "Among all the participants, she had the least understanding of the complex theories discussed in the seminar."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Prior to the election, the regime seemed to be quite confident that the international community had become supportive, or at least understanding, of its unity and strength in the face of pressure on its nuclear program.

The New Yorker

Not so: indeed the Beeb (and the Labour front bench for reasons of electoral geography) has done much to spread at least understanding of Scottish accents besides the active use of Estuary English an ugly concoction but just as genuine as any other dialect born in London and the unclassy areas down the River Thames.

The Economist

Attendees endorsed the least understanding of disease-related stress, risk factors, fatigue management, and legal issues related to disease/treatment.

Cancer Medicine

Attendees endorsed the least understanding of disease-related stress (48%), risk factors (48%), management of disease-related fatigue (44%).

Cancer Medicine

Their research shows that the form of representation that is most commonly used in undergraduate biology texts leads to the least understanding of this important evolutionary concept.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Last but not least, understanding the possibilities of non-chemical signaling between cells is interesting by itself just from natural curiosity.

Cell Communication and Signaling

Fear and pain exist, but there is always something beyond the worst events – if not redemption or better times, then at least understanding or the outline of meaning.

The Guardian - Books

"We're certainly disturbed by the premise," she said, "or at least our understanding of the premise".

The New York Times - Arts

But if there's anything I know, I have at least some understanding of people, and the guy came across as genuine".

The New York Times - Magazine

They represented a missed opportunity for marketers and agencies to demonstrate that they had at least some understanding of how contemporary consumers think and behave.

The New York Times

The obvious emotion underlying a great song makes us feel that we have at least some understanding of the performers and their motivations.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "least understanding of", ensure the context clearly establishes a comparison. This phrase implies a ranking or comparison among multiple subjects or areas.

Common error

Avoid using "least understanding of" when you simply mean a lack of understanding. The word "least" implies a comparison, so if there's nothing to compare it to, use a phrase like "limited understanding of" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "least understanding of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating a comparative lack of comprehension. As evidenced by Ludwig's examples, it often appears when comparing levels of knowledge or insight among different subjects or areas. Ludwig AI reports the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "least understanding of" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to indicate the lowest level of comprehension in a comparative context. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While relatively rare, it appears in both scientific and news contexts, suggesting a neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure a clear comparison is present. Alternatives like "poorest understanding of" or "limited comprehension of" can be used for subtle variations in meaning. Remember, using "least" correctly emphasizes comparison, preventing misuse in non-comparative scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poorest understanding of

Substitutes "least" with "poorest" to emphasize the deficiency in understanding.

limited comprehension of

Replaces "understanding" with "comprehension" and uses "limited" instead of "least".

minimal grasp of

Uses "grasp" to replace "understanding", indicating a weaker hold on the concept.

scant knowledge of

Replaces "understanding" with "knowledge" and "least" with "scant", highlighting the lack of information.

weakest perception of

Emphasizes the inadequacy of intuitive awareness or insight.

rudimentary awareness of

Highlights a very basic or initial level of familiarity.

deficient insight into

Focuses on the inadequacy of intuitive awareness or insight.

superficial acquaintance with

Highlights a shallow or surface-level familiarity.

basic unawareness of

Highlights a lack of awareness regarding something.

failing to comprehend

Shifts the focus to the active failure to understand a specific subject

FAQs

How can I use "least understanding of" in a sentence?

Use "least understanding of" to indicate the subject with the lowest level of comprehension compared to others. For example: "Among the team members, John had the least understanding of the project requirements."

What are some alternatives to "least understanding of"?

You can use alternatives like "poorest understanding of", "limited comprehension of", or "minimal grasp of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "less understanding of" instead of "least understanding of"?

While "less understanding of" is grammatically correct, "least understanding of" is more appropriate when comparing three or more subjects. "Less" is typically used for comparing only two items.

What is the difference between "lack of understanding" and "least understanding of"?

"Lack of understanding" indicates a general absence of comprehension. "Least understanding of", on the other hand, implies a comparison, indicating the lowest level of understanding among a group.