lottery
LO-tuh-ree
Lottery (noun) means a game in which people buy numbered tickets and prizes are awarded to whichever numbers are drawn at random. Example: “My aunt buys one lottery ticket every week, just for fun.”
noun
1
A game in which people buy numbered tickets and prizes are awarded to whichever numbers are drawn at random.
"My aunt buys one lottery ticket every week, just for fun."
"He won ten thousand dollars in the state lottery."
"They pooled their money to buy lottery tickets every Friday."
2
Something whose outcome depends entirely on chance rather than effort or skill.
"Choosing a school can feel like a lottery when you don't know the teachers."
"Whether you get a good flatmate is a bit of a lottery."
"Getting a good seat on the flight felt like a total lottery."
How to use lottery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA game of chance with tickets and prizes, or, more loosely, anything decided purely by luck.
Common pairings
win the lottery
lottery ticket
lottery numbers
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Word forms
- Plural
- lotteries
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My aunt buys one _____ ticket every week, just for fun.
Etymology
From Italian lotteria, ultimately related to the Old English word "hlot," the ancestor of "lot."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for lottery
See all rhymes for lottery →Frequently asked questions
What does “lottery” mean?
The word “lottery” means a game in which people buy numbered tickets and prizes are awarded to whichever numbers are drawn at random. In plain terms, a game of chance with tickets and prizes, or, more loosely, anything decided purely by luck.
How do you pronounce “lottery”?
“Lottery” is pronounced LO-tuh-ree (/ˈlɑtɚi/ in IPA).
How do you use “lottery” in a sentence?
Here is “lottery” used in a sentence: “He won ten thousand dollars in the state lottery.”
What part of speech is “lottery”?
“Lottery” is a noun.
Where does the word “lottery” come from?
The word “lottery” comes from Old English. From Italian lotteria, ultimately related to the Old English word "hlot," the ancestor of "lot.".
Is “lottery” a common word?
“Lottery” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “lottery” have?
“Lottery” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a game in which people buy numbered tickets and prizes are awarded to whichever numbers are drawn at random.
What is the difference between a lottery and a raffle?
Both award prizes by random draw, but a lottery is a game in which people buy numbered tickets and prizes go to whichever numbers are drawn, typically with cash prizes and large-scale organisation. A raffle is usually a smaller event, often run for charity or at a fundraiser, where tickets are drawn for specific donated prizes rather than money.
What is a postcode lottery?
A postcode lottery is a British expression for a situation in which the quality or availability of a service, often healthcare, depends on where you happen to live rather than on need or fairness. It uses lottery in the figurative sense of an outcome decided purely by chance.
Is playing the lottery considered gambling?
Generally, yes. Because players pay for tickets and prizes are awarded to numbers drawn at random, winning depends on chance rather than skill, which is the defining feature of gambling. Lotteries are typically regulated under gambling or gaming laws, though the exact legal treatment varies by country.
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