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lottery

lottery

57 2.7
A situation where the result is decided by chance, not planning
  • noun
  • /ˈlɑːtəri/
: 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.