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Definition of lottery

lottery

/ˈlɑːtəɹi/
lot · ter · y
Plural:lotteries
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lottery Lexical Profile

lottery Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A system of raising money by selling numbered tickets and awarding prizes to the holders of numbers drawn at random.

Example

"She bought a lottery ticket at the convenience store, hoping to win the massive jackpot."

2

A situation, process, or event whose success or outcome is governed entirely by chance.

Example

"Finding an affordable apartment in the city center has become an absolute lottery."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for lottery

• Nearby Words

lotion
lots
lots of
lottery
lotto
lotus
lotus root

Word Origin & Etymology

Late 16th century: from Dutch 'loterij', originally derived from 'lot', meaning a chance or portion.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lottery. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lottery
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