lottery

lot-ter-y · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A system of raising money by selling numbered tickets and awarding prizes to holders of randomly drawn numbers.

  2. 2.

    Something whose outcome depends on chance or luck.

  3. 3.

    A selection process based on random chance.

Forms

plural: lotteries

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    lottery ticket — A ticket purchased for entry into a lottery
  • •
    win the lottery — To win a lottery prize; figuratively, to be very lucky
  • •
    lottery of life — The random circumstances of one's birth and fortune
  • •
    genetic lottery — The random inheritance of genes from parents

Related words

See also: chance, gamble, jackpot, raffle
Synonyms: draw, raffle, sweepstakes

Etymology

From Italian lotteria, from lotto ("lot"), from Frankish lot or Old English hlot ("lot, portion"). Related to the casting of lots for making decisions.