lottery

noun

lot·​tery ˈlä-tə-rē 

 also  ˈlä-trē

plural lotteries

often attributive

1

a

: a drawing of lots in which prizes are distributed to the winners among persons buying a chance

b

: a drawing of lots used to decide something

2

: an event or affair whose outcome is or seems to be determined by chance

Examples of lottery in a Sentence

They held a lottery to determine who could get a green card.

Room assignments are determined by lottery.

Life's a lottery, isn't it? It all depends on luck.

Recent Examples on the Web

Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. —Jordan Kellogg, The Enquirer, 5 Nov. 2024

Zoom in: There's also a U.S. Senate race, seven other congressional contests, judicial elections and a constitutional amendment on lottery funds. —Torey Van Oot, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024

Krasner’s lawsuit accuses Musk and his PAC of violating Pennsylvania consumer protection laws, in addition to lottery laws, with the giveaway, which requires participants to sign a petition supporting the Constitution. —Gary Grumbach,dan Mangan, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024

The Powerball lottery jackpot continues to grow after no one matched all six numbers from Wednesday night's drawing. —Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French loterie, probably borrowed from Middle Dutch loterye, from loten "to draw lots" (derivative of lot "lot, prediction, destiny," going back to Germanic *hluta-) + -erye -ery — more at lot entry 1

Note: Alternatively the Middle Dutch word could have been borrowed from Middle French loterie (despite the French word's later date), perhaps a calque on Middle Dutch lotinge "action of drawing lots" (thus the Oxford English Dictionary, third edition). The earliest state-sponsored lotteries in Europe were held in the cities of Flanders in the first half of the 15th century. The first English state lottery was held in 1569, with advertisements using the word lotterie having been printed two years earlier.

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing lottery

• play the lottery
• win the lottery

Kids Definition

lottery

noun

lot·​tery ˈlät-ə-rē 

ˈlä-trē

plural lotteries

: a drawing of lots in which prizes are given to the winning names or numbers