raffle

1 of 3

verb

raf·​fle ˈra-fəl 

raffled; raffling ˈra-f(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: to engage in a raffle

transitive verb

: to dispose of by means of a raffle

raffle off a turkey

raffle

2 of 3

noun (1)

: a lottery in which the prize is won by one of numerous persons buying chances

raffle

3 of 3

noun (2)

: rubbish

especially : a jumble or tangle of nautical equipment

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• chaff
• deadwood
• debris
• dreck
• drek
• dross
• dust
• effluvium
• effluvia
• garbage
• junk
• litter
• offal
• offscouring
• refuse
• riffraff
• rubbish
• scrap
• spilth
• trash
• truck
• waste

Examples of raffle in a Sentence

Noun (2)

the front lawn was littered with the raffle that the roofers had left behind

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Love donated the lyrics to be raffled off as part of a fundraiser for the Ellis Park Wildlife Sanctuary in Indonesia (co-founded by Bad Seeds member and Nick Cave collaborator, Warren Ellis). —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024

Chevy's Appliances has also donated a washer and dryer to be raffled off at the market. —Alexandra Hardle, The Arizona Republic, 4 Oct. 2024

Noun

Members of the loyalty program, Hugo Boss XP, who have downloaded and signed into the mobile application will have the opportunity to participate in a raffle, with four prizes of 250 euro gift vouchers. —Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 4 Nov. 2024

Guests also could buy a souvenir glass of champagne with each glass equaling one raffle ticket for a chance to win a diamond from Sissy's Log Cabin. —Cary Jenkins, arkansasonline.com, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English rafle, a dice game, from Middle French, dice game in which all the stakes can be won in a throw, literally, rake for a fire, from Middle High German raffel rake for a fire, from raffen to snatch, gather

Noun (2)

probably from French rafle act of snatching, sweeping, from Middle French, rake for a fire

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1680, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

1709, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1543, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

raffle

1 of 2 verb

raf·​fle ˈraf-əl 

raffled; raffling ˈraf-(ə-)liŋ 

: to dispose of by a raffle

raffle off a turkey

raffle

2 of 2 noun

: the sale of chances for a prize whose winner is the one whose ticket is picked at a drawing