lesser defined

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lesser defined" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct term is "less well-defined" or "less clearly defined," which can be used to describe something that lacks clarity or precision. Example: "The project's goals are lesser defined compared to the previous phase, making it difficult to assess progress."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

As part of those cost reductions, Donahoe said he would like to shed more than 100,000 postal workers who are now covered by no-layoff clauses in union contracts; move new employees from a defined-benefit plan to a lesser defined-contribution plan; and eliminate the service's mandatory annual payment into employee health benefits.

Huffington Post

By sexism, we mean something specific, not the business of appreciating beauty if Trump wants to host beauty contests, let him but the habit of conceiving of a woman as being a lesser species, one defined exclusively by appearance.

The New Yorker

Kim says that the cash balance plans being pushed are complex and somewhat hard to understand, but that they will cost states more to administer and provide employees with lesser pensions than defined benefit plans.

Huffington Post

However, this will occur at the expense of vertical equity because then priority would be given to groups with lesser needs as defined by the national priority guidelines.

BMC Health Services Research

Lesser artists might have defined themselves by the am dram theatrics or played it as Dita Von Teese with attitude, but Palmer dug deep into her squirming sack of issues and let her songwriting skills speak for themselves.

The Guardian - Music

Speaking to me, Iqbal refused to acknowledge that he'd only really defined the lesser jihad not the greater one.

Vice

The lesser populated GO categories defined in Figure 2 are no less important.

BMC Genomics

Robustness of one group relative to another can be defined as lesser variance in fitness changes brought on by mutation(s) added to the genome [ 4, 26].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

This information could help in delineating the relevant antigens represented in various PPDs, which could further lead to development of a lesser complex and better defined skin test antigen with a higher specificity and sensitivity.

Clinical Proteomics

This is potentially relevant for C. terminifera egg beds which overwinter as a mixture of diapause and direct developing embryos, dependent on the cumulative effects of declining photophase (and to a lesser extent, temperature) defining a distinct temporal window of diapause oviposition (Wardhaugh, 1980 b ; Deveson & Woodman, 2014 a ).

Bulletin of Entomological Research

"His work from the 1990s was so powerful that a lesser artist would have been defined by it.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for phrases like "less well-defined" or "less clearly defined" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. These alternatives are widely accepted and readily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "lesser defined" as it's grammatically unconventional. Instead, use "less well-defined" or "less clearly defined" to maintain proper English syntax and enhance readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lesser defined" functions as a descriptive term, attempting to modify a noun by indicating a reduced degree of definition. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect, suggesting alternative constructions for proper usage.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "lesser defined" aims to express a reduced degree of definition, it's considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig recommends employing alternatives such as "less well-defined" or "less clearly defined" to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity. The phrase's non-standard usage limits its suitability for formal contexts. It's important to opt for precise and accepted constructions to avoid misinterpretation and maintain effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less well-defined

Emphasizes the lack of clarity or precision in definition.

less clearly defined

Highlights a reduced level of clarity in the definition.

poorly defined

Indicates a definition that is inadequate or deficient.

vaguely defined

Suggests a lack of specificity or precision in the definition.

imprecisely defined

Highlights the lack of exactness in the definition.

loosely defined

Implies a definition that is not strict or rigid.

inadequately defined

Indicates the definition is insufficient or incomplete.

ambiguously defined

Highlights the presence of multiple possible interpretations.

partially defined

Suggests that the definition is only partly complete.

incompletely defined

Indicates the definition lacks essential elements.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say something is not well defined?

Use phrases like "less well-defined" or "less clearly defined" instead of "lesser defined".

Is "lesser defined" grammatically correct?

No, "lesser defined" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use "less well-defined".

What can I say instead of "lesser defined"?

You can use alternatives like "poorly defined", "vaguely defined", or "imprecisely defined".

How does "less well-defined" differ from "lesser defined"?

"Less well-defined" is grammatically sound and widely accepted, while "lesser defined" is not a standard construction in English.