The word "fewer" means a smaller number or amount of something. In the context of the clue "Like Canadian provinces vis-à-vis U.S. states," it means that there is a smaller number of Canadian provinces compared to the number of U.S. states.
Note: The provided meaning of the answer is for the latest New York Times crossword puzzle clue: Like Canadian provinces vis-à-vis U.S. states. Explanations are generated by AI and may be inaccurate.