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

For centuries, public disclosure of those with winning tickets was an essential part of ensuring people could trust lotteries. —Safiyah Riddle, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025

How interest rates affect lottery prizes The 30 payments over 29 years would come from an annuity purchased by the lottery sponsors. —Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025

Her ticket matched four of the white balls, along with the Powerball, according to lottery officials. —Daniella Segura, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025

Nationwide, lotteries pay out barely two-thirds of ticket revenues in prize money. —Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025

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