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

Since La Cañada was so small, the Mexican government only allowed three of its residents to become braceros each year via a lottery.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A man who forgot to cancel his direct debit to the Postcode Lottery at the request of his girlfriend has pocketed £125,000 in October's lottery draw.

Read more on BBC

Whether it’s a lottery win or an inheritance, there will always be someone tapping on your shoulder with a story that puts you in pole position as their savior.

Read more on MarketWatch

The system includes four different types of schools: the lottery schools, charter schools, specialized schools that require a test, and then arts schools that require an audition.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Six are based in New York, including a new hire in a business development role who is a U.K. citizen and won the H-1B lottery earlier this year, Gershanok said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• gambling 
• raffle 
• sweepstake