/ ˈlɒtəri; NAmE ˈlɑːt-/ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C ] a way of raising money for a government, charity, etc. by selling tickets that have different numbers on them that people have chosen. Numbers are then chosen by chance and the people who have those numbers on their tickets win prizes :
the national / state lottery
a lottery ticket
—compare draw , raffle
2.
[ sing. ] (often disapproving ) a situation whose success or result is based on luck rather than on effort or careful organization
SYN gamble :
Some people think that marriage is a lottery.
—see also postcode lottery
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: probably from Dutch loterij , from lot lot.