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 of raffle

Noun (2)

• garbage
• debris
• truck
• trash
• junk
• rubbish
• dust
• litter

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

For some reason, an online-prescribing company was raffling off a Louis Vuitton bag. —Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026

Netflix and Hybe raffled off 22,000 tickets for cordoned seating dancing areas surrounding the stage, but the streamer and label were expecting at least 260,000 people to pour into the square and its surrounding streets. —Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 21 Mar. 2026

Noun

Organizers say the two previous Picasso raffles raised a total of more than 10 million euros for cultural work in Lebanon and water and hygiene programs in Africa. —ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026

The event will include one tasting wine flight with each registration, silent auction, raffle prizes and light snacks. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for raffle

• baffle

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