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

"This leads to a postcode lottery, where even high-need areas fail to address issues like constipation adequately."

From BBC

She said: "It shouldn't be a postcode lottery to be fully engaged in your education."

From BBC

But the same month the review was published, the Foundation learned that its application for a lottery grant - which it needed to keep running - had been turned down.

From BBC

Each of those winners will receive $1,165,399, the lottery says.

From Los Angeles Times

She currently organises camping trips for families on a site outside Bala but has secured lottery funding to help create her own permanent site in the future.

From BBC

Related Words

• gambling 
• raffle 
• sweepstake