Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "mafi ƙanƙanta" ita ce mafi girman nau'i na sifa "kaɗan," ma'ana mafi ƙarancin lamba ko adadin wani abu. Ana amfani da shi don bayyana adadin da bai kai kowane adadi ba a cikin rukuni ko kwatance. Misali, "A cikin dukkan 'yan takara, ta samu mafi karancin kuri'u" yana nufin cewa ta samu mafi karancin kuri'u idan aka kwatanta da kowane dan takara.