Idiom idiom
genetic lottery
Meaning
The concept that any advantageous or disadvantageous genetic traits and abilities that a person inherits from their parents are largely determined by chance.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“He is tall and fast, thanks to the genetic lottery.”
“Some people are born with natural musical talent, which is just the luck of the genetic lottery.”
“While she worked hard to refine her skills, she acknowledged that her exceptional physical health was largely a fortunate outcome of the genetic lottery.”
Anchors to
Last updated August 10, 2026