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⪅

less-than or approximate

Less Than or Approximate

⪅ relates values where the left side is lower than, or roughly equal to, the right. This approximate inequality belongs in mathematical, scientific, and engineering writing. The shorthand “lessapprox” names it, but writers can give its stacked marks different logical scopes, so define the intended one when it matters.

Text symbol
Also called
lessapprox · less than approximately · approximately less than
Search it as
approximate inequality
Shows up in
Anything that takes text · its shape is whatever your font draws

What ⪅ means

It means “less than or approximately equal to.” In an approximate inequality, the left value is below the right or close enough to count as approximately equal. “Lessapprox” is a shorthand name, not a precise definition.

Some readers treat ⪅ as a softened form of ≤; others give “less than” and “approximately equal” separate force. The notation does not settle that logical scope on its own, so define it nearby when a proof or specification depends on the difference.

Technical mathematical notation; its logical scope needs a local convention.

The tilde matters: ⪅ is not plain ≤.

Don't confuse it with

3
≤
Less-Than Or Equal To
Plain less-than-or-equal; it does not visibly signal approximation.
≲
Less-Than Or Equivalent To
A compact approximate relation with a field-dependent interpretation; do not swap it casually.
⪆
Greater-Than Or Approximate
The mirrored relation: greater than or approximately equal to.

Questions people ask

2

Is ⪅ the same as ≤?

No. ≤ means less than or equal; ⪅ adds approximation, and its exact logical scope depends on the writer’s convention.

Why does ⪅ look different in different fonts?

Math fonts can space or tilt the strokes differently, making the stacked relation look tighter or more open.

How to type ⪅

Windows (Word)
Alt+XType 2A85, then Alt+X to get ⪅.
Windows
Win+Rrun charmap for the full table, or use the emoji picker's Ω symbols tab (Win + .).
macOS
Control+Command+SpaceOpen the character viewer and search “less-than or approximate”.
Linux
Ctrl+Shift+UType 2a85, then Enter or Space.
HTML
⪅
CSS
\2A85
Unicode escape for ⪅
In JavaScript or JSON, write the Unicode escape `\u2A85`.
HTML
Use the hexadecimal character reference `⪅`.
CSS
Write `\2A85` followed by a space when needed.
Codes and encoding1 code points
HTML decimal
⪅
HTML hex
⪅
CSS content
content: "\2A85";
Each escape is closed by the next backslash; a trailing space is needed before a literal hex digit.
URL encoded
%E2%AA%85
1
On screen
1
Code points
1
JS .length
3
UTF-8 bytes

A visible symbol can contain several code points. JS .length counts UTF-16 units; UTF-8 counts bytes.

Families this belongs to

1

Maths & numbers1,835 symbols

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