lottery
Americannoun
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lotteries
plural
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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.
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any scheme for the distribution of prizes by chance.
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any happening or process that is or appears to be determined by chance.
to look upon life as a lottery.
noun
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a method of raising money by selling numbered tickets and giving a proportion of the money raised to holders of numbers drawn at random
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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
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an activity or endeavour the success of which is regarded as a matter of fate or luck
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of lottery
First recorded in 1560–70, lottery is from the Middle Dutch word loterie (whence also French loterie ). See lot, -ery
Explanation
A lottery is a contest where players buy tickets and have a random (and low) chance of winning. Finding true love and getting hit by lightning are often said to be as likely as winning the lottery. A lottery can be a state-run contest promising big bucks to the lucky winners, or a lottery can also be any contest where the winners are selected at random. For example, some schools choose students by using a lottery system. Regardless of the type of lottery, a lottery works where there is great demand for something and only a limited number of winners.
Vocabulary lists containing lottery
Workshop 3, Part 1
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Selection Vocabulary 2, Unit 1
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for April 16–April 22, 2022
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Rather than continuing to accumulate young talent around their lone lottery picks, Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, they decided they were ready to accelerate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
While some teenagers may mark their 18th birthdays by buying a lottery ticket or getting a first tattoo, Deon Radcliff Jr. had different priorities.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026
Moscow city officials said those who cast their votes electronically would be entered into a lottery, with prizes including subscriptions to music- and video-streaming services.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
In an extract published on Thursday in the Daily Mail, Spencer claimed Charles sounded like a "lottery winner" during the call.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
The odds of winning the lottery were one in three hundred million.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
You’ll also be automatically entered into any Paralympic ticket lotteries for when Paralympic sales begin in 2027.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
When it comes to lotteries, Mr. Kessler suggests asking a spouse, friend or grandparent to enter as well.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026
What to know about dynamic pricing, lotteries and sale dates while trying to score seats.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2025
"It would be like winning four lotteries in a row. You've got to use a bit of common sense and be sensible and logical about it."
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2025
They kiss my cheeks and hold my hand and tell me how they won money in the kingdom's lotteries by betting on me to be named the favorite.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
