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

The Nets won the lottery in 1990 after finishing with the NBA’s worst record and selected Derrick Coleman. —C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026

As the 13th lottery seed, the odds say the Heat will very likely end up with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft in June. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 May 2026

Thanks to a bevy of injuries to their star players as well as the fatigue of having to play meaningful hockey well into the month of June three seasons in a row, the Cats went from postseason locks as recently as January to NHL Draft lottery hopefuls in the span of four months. —Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026

So to Mourning, leave luck to others on the lottery dais. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026

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

Rhymes for lottery

• cautery
• pottery
• watery

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