Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
parimutuel

parimutuel

1 9.9
A system where similar bets are put together and people who win divide the money
  • noun
  • /ˌpærɪˈmjuːtʃuːl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : parimutuel
  • The rules of parimutuel wagering state that all bets are combined into one pool, from which payouts are made to those who win.
  • parimutuel betting

Examples

  • "Red" Berry, who dreamed of creating within Texas a 51st state that would be a paradise of parimutuel betting.

    Blog text (6)

  • That includes profits on the parimutuel betting... the breakage money, taxes from the mutuel machines... receipts from the concessions and the money from ticket sales.

    The Killing (1956)

  • At the racetrack, all the bets placed go into a parimutuel pool, and winners share the winnings after the house takes its cut.

  • In a parimutuel system, the odds fluctuate based on the amount of money placed on each competitor.

Synonyms

mutuel
vsparimutuel
  • Jargon
1 9.8

A betting system where all bets go into one pool and winners share the money

is the same system but uses a different term in usage

Surface Forms

parimutuel singular
parimutels plural

Morphology

parimutuel = pari + mutuel

The term is a loan compound from French (pari + mutuel); 'mutuel' resembles English 'mutual' and hints at pooled/mutual betting, but 'pari' is not a productive English morpheme so the meaning is only partly recoverable by learners.

Etymology

Parimutuel comes from French parts pari ('bet') and mutuel ('mutual' or 'shared'), like the English word mutual. So it really means 'shared bets', which is why a parimutuel system puts all bets together and winners share the money from the same pot.