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

Longevity facility Fountain Life is also sponsoring the weekend and will be raffling off three one-year subscriptions. —Emily Burns, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019

The Giving Voice Foundation is raffling off a five-bottle Antique Buffalo Trace collection to support free community programs for adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and their caregivers. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 4 June 2024

Noun

The pond is open for swimming from noon to 5 p.m., there's a raffle at 8 p.m. and the fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. —Cathy Kozlowicz, Journal Sentinel, 21 June 2024

How to enter the raffle Tickets are available now at oki.wish.org/bourbon. —Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 12 June 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