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
Helfman told lottery officials while claiming her recent prize.
—
Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2025
The winning numbers were 27, 30, 56, 64 and 65 with a Mega Ball of 22, the lottery said.
—Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 22 Jan. 2025
At the midway point of their season — 41 games down, 41 to go — the Wizards haven’t merely protected their lottery odds.
—Josh Robbins, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
The winning ticket was sold at Bridge Lake Market in Clarkston, about a 40-mile drive northwest from Detroit, lottery officials said.
—Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for lottery 
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Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2025
The winning numbers were 27, 30, 56, 64 and 65 with a Mega Ball of 22, the lottery said.
—Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 22 Jan. 2025
At the midway point of their season — 41 games down, 41 to go — the Wizards haven’t merely protected their lottery odds.
—Josh Robbins, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
The winning ticket was sold at Bridge Lake Market in Clarkston, about a 40-mile drive northwest from Detroit, lottery officials said.
—Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for lottery
Articles Related to lottery
Dictionary Entries Near lottery
Cite this Entry
“Lottery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lottery. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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