lottery

[lot-uh-ree]

noun

plural

lotteries 

1. a gambling game or method of raising money, as for some public charitable purpose, in which a large number of tickets are sold and a drawing is held for certain prizes.

2. any scheme for the distribution of prizes by chance.

3. any happening or process that is or appears to be determined by chance.

   to look upon life as a lottery.

lottery

/ ˈlɒtərɪ /

noun

1. a method of raising money by selling numbered tickets and giving a proportion of the money raised to holders of numbers drawn at random

2. a similar method of raising money in which players select a small group of numbers out of a larger group printed on a ticket. If a player's selection matches some or all of the numbers drawn at random the player wins a proportion of the prize fund

3. an activity or endeavour the success of which is regarded as a matter of fate or luck

Other Word Forms

• antilottery adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lottery¹

First recorded in 1560–70, lottery is from the Middle Dutch word loterie (whence also French loterie ). See lot, -ery

Word History and Origins

Origin of lottery¹

C16: from Old French loterie, from Middle Dutch loterije. See _lot

Example Sentences

After fans register for the ticket lottery beginning in January, purchasing windows will open that spring.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mahmood said "disparities in performance" meant that policing in England and Wales was a "postcode lottery".

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“If we found a Bronze Age ship we would be like winners of the world’s richest lottery.”

Read more on Literature

And that was even before his team lost 4-1 at home to Norway on Sunday, confirming they will now enter the lottery of play-offs to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup.

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Participants were then told that they would be entered into a lottery with a chance of winning a $25 gift card.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• gambling 
• raffle 
• sweepstake