lottery

Universal Words noun (plural lotteries) 1 [C] a way of raising money for a government, charity, etc. by selling tickets that have different numbers on them that people have chosen. Numbers are then chosen by chance and the people who have those numbers on their tickets win prizes: the national / state lottery * a lottery ticket compareDRAW, RAFFLE 2 [sing.] (often disapproving) a situation whose success or result is based on luck rather than on effort or careful organization: Some people think that marriage is a lottery.