# lotto

/ˈɫɑˌtoʊ/ (US) · /lˈɒtəʊ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lotto
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a game of chance where you buy a ticket with numbers on it. If your numbers match the ones chosen by luck, you win a prize.

For teachers: a game of chance in which participants purchase tickets with specific numbers, with prizes awarded to those whose numbers are selected by a random draw.

## Examples

- He plays the lotto every Saturday night.
- The local lotto jackpot reached ten million dollars after nobody won for three consecutive weeks.
- While many view the lotto as a harmless form of entertainment, economists often describe it as a regressive tax because it disproportionately attracts spending from lower-income households.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a synonym for 'lottery' in informal or regional contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.