thinner: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral (both formal and informal)
Quick answer
What does “thinner” mean?
The comparative form of the adjective 'thin'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The comparative form of the adjective 'thin'; meaning having a smaller distance between opposite surfaces or sides.
A liquid substance used to dilute paint or other coatings to achieve a less viscous consistency; also, a person or thing that makes something thinner.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Spelling of related terms differs (e.g., BrE 'dialling', AmE 'dialing').
Connotations
Identical. The noun sense ('paint thinner') is equally technical/common in both dialects.
Frequency
The comparative adjective is extremely high-frequency in both dialects. The noun is medium-frequency, associated with DIY, art, and industrial contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “thinner” in a Sentence
X is thinner than Yto become/get thinnerto make X thinnerto apply thinner to YVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thinner” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The new pound coin is noticeably thinner than the old one.
- After his illness, his face looked much thinner.
American English
- This laptop model is thinner than its predecessor.
- The soup should have a thinner consistency; add some more broth.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Referring to reduced margins, smaller workforce, or less dense market penetration (e.g., 'thinner profits this quarter').
Academic
Describing physical properties, statistical distributions, or layers in scientific contexts (e.g., 'a thinner stratum of sediment').
Everyday
Most commonly used for describing people's bodies, objects, food, or liquids (e.g., 'This phone is thinner than my old one.').
Technical
Primarily the noun: a solvent like turpentine or white spirit used to reduce viscosity in coatings.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thinner”
- Using 'more thin' instead of 'thinner' in comparative constructions (though 'more thin' is grammatically possible, 'thinner' is standard).
- Confusing 'thinner' (adj./n.) with 'thin' (adj.) or 'thinness' (n.).
- Misspelling as 'thiner' (missing the double 'n').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While grammatically understandable, 'more thin' is non-standard and sounds unnatural. The standard comparative form is always 'thinner'.
Both can refer to body size, but 'thinner' is more general (can describe any object's dimension), while 'slimmer' is often used for bodies or objects with an attractive, elegant reduction in size. 'Thinner' can also imply weakness or deficiency (e.g., a thin argument).
No, 'thinner' is not a verb. The verb form is 'to thin' (e.g., 'Thin the sauce with a little water'). 'Thinner' is the comparative adjective or a noun.
Common types include white spirit (for oil-based paints), turpentine (for artists' oils), acetone (for lacquers and nail polish), and water (for water-based paints and acrylics).
The comparative form of the adjective 'thin'.
Thinner is usually neutral (both formal and informal) in register.
Thinner: in British English it is pronounced /ˈθɪnə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈθɪnər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[no direct idioms for 'thinner'; related: 'disappear into thin air', 'on thin ice', 'spread oneself too thin']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'thin' with an extra 'n' and '-er' – if something is thin, a 'thinner' thing has won the competition to be the most thin (the 'winner' is 'thinner').
Conceptual Metaphor
LESS IS DOWN / LESS IS WEAK (e.g., 'thinner crowd', 'thinner argument'); PURITY / ADJUSTMENT IS DILUTION (paint thinner).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'thinner' used exclusively as a noun?