Yes, an isotope can have fewer neutrons than the most common form of an element.

Here's why:

* Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons (defining the element) but different numbers of neutrons.

* The number of neutrons can vary, resulting in different isotopes of the same element.

* For example, Carbon-12 has 6 protons and 6 neutrons, while Carbon-14 has 6 protons and 8 neutrons. Carbon-14 has more neutrons than Carbon-12.

Important note: While isotopes can have fewer neutrons than the most common form, they can also have more neutrons. The term "isotope" simply implies a variation in the number of neutrons.