Word
lottery
Phoneticslot·tery
US/ˈɫɑtɝi/
UK/lˈɒtəɹi/
Definitions
01gambling game
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a game where you buy a ticket with numbers on it, and you win money if your numbers are chosen by luck.
n. a scheme for the distribution of prizes by lot or chance, typically involving the purchase of numbered tickets.
“He buys a ticket for the national lottery every Saturday, hoping to win the jackpot.”
“The state-run lottery generates significant revenue for public works, though critics argue it functions as a regressive tax on lower-income households.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'play', 'win', or 'enter'.
02something decided by luck
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a situation where the result depends on luck or chance rather than hard work or skill.
n. a process or event whose outcome is governed by chance or unpredictable factors.
“Finding a good parking space in this city is a complete lottery.”
“Securing a place at the prestigious academy has become something of a lottery, as the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the available spots.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'a bit of a lottery' or 'the postcode lottery'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “lottery” in context.
Verb
01. enter a lottery
“Thousands of people entered the lottery for a chance to win the luxury apartment.”
verb + noun
02. play the lottery
“My grandfather has played the lottery every Saturday for the last thirty years.”
verb + noun
03. win the lottery
“She planned to travel the world if she ever managed to win the lottery.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. genetic lottery
“Being born with such athletic talent is like winning the genetic lottery.”
adj + noun
05. national lottery
“Proceeds from the national lottery are often used to fund local arts and sports programs.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. lottery jackpot
“The lottery jackpot has reached a record-breaking fifty million dollars this week.”
noun + noun
07. lottery ticket
“He carefully placed the lottery ticket in his wallet, hoping it was the lucky one.”
noun + noun
08. lottery winner
“The latest lottery winner decided to remain anonymous to protect their privacy.”
noun + noun
Preposition
09. in a lottery
“The limited edition sneakers were sold to customers chosen in a lottery.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“It is beginning to feel like a postcode lottery.” “She told the BBC at the time that the way police forces investigate cases was "too much of a postcode lottery".” Etymology
Borrowed from Italian lotteria, from the same root as Old English hlot (cognate with English lot). Compare French loterie (from Middle Dutch loterie). By surface analysis, lot + -ery.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/lottery