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lottery

lottery

57 2.7
A situation where the result is decided by chance, not planning
  • noun
  • /ˈlɑːtəri/
translation icon : sorteo
  • It's a lottery system for a reason.
  • selection by lottery
  • a lottery system
  • a postcode lottery

And it's like, I already hit the lottery by it not failing.

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Examples

  • You don't have to win the lottery  to do that.

  • I was lucky in the draft lottery, too, where to come in last was to win.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • What could make the lottery more interesting?

  • Well, we might have lost the lottery, but we won.

  • OK, the lottery is a total RIP off.

  • Since I had been chosen by lottery in the first place, I did not feel cheated.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Since 1973, all high school applicants have been assigned by lottery to schools within their residential district.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The recent lottery drew thousands of hopeful participants waiting to see who would win.

  • Every month, many people buy tickets for the state lottery, hoping for a life-changing prize.

  • After winning the lottery, she could finally afford her dream house without financial worries.

Synonyms

chance
vslottery
780 2.1

An unplanned event or meeting that happens without reason

is a specific organized outcome decided by randomness rather than intention
draw
vslottery
115 4.1

An act of choosing someone or something by chance

is a whole situation determined by randomness, not just the selection act
gamble
vslottery
65 3.5

A risky action with an uncertain result that may depend on chance

is an impersonal selection event decided by random chance, not risk taking
crapshoot
vslottery
  • NSFW
7 9.1

A risky situation where the result depends mostly on luck

is a specific planned event whose result is set by randomness
luck of the draw
vslottery
  • Informal
3 4.8

A result that depends only on chance, like drawing names from a hat

is any event decided by randomness rather than planning or control
drawing
vslottery
3 3.8

An event where winners are chosen by chance from tickets

is a general case of such events decided by chance
chance event
vslottery
1 3.4

An event that happens by accident and is not planned

is an arranged occurrence whose result is determined by randomness
lucky dip
vslottery
  • UK
5.3

A game where you pick a surprise gift by chance

is a formal organized process decided by randomness rather than play
dice roll
vslottery
4.7

A choice with an uncertain result that may be risky

is a structured event where the outcome is set purely by random choice
throw of the dice
vslottery
6.5

A decision that depends mostly on chance

is an organized selection process rather than an individual risky choice

Antonyms

2.4

To have power over people, things, or situations

507 2.2

To think ahead and decide what to do to prepare for something

Compounds

A paper you buy that gives you a chance to win money in a game of luck

A person who wins a lottery and gets the prize

Random chance of being born with certain body or health traits from your parents

9.9

An unexpected piece of good luck in a poor area, said jokingly

How Risky

lottery
57 2.7
crapshoot
  • NSFW
7 9.1
gamble
65 3.5
sure thing
77 2.4

Surface Forms

lottery singular
lotteries plural

Morphology

lottery = lot (semi-transparent) = lot + ery

The figurative sense 'a situation determined by chance' is logically related to the game sense but requires a metaphorical inference.

Etymology

Lottery comes from the old word lot, meaning 'fate' or 'share'. Because a 'lot' once meant what happens to someone by chance, people use lottery to describe events or choices that are decided by luck rather than by planning.