a gambling game or method of raising money, as for some public charitable purpose, in which a large number of tickets are sold and a drawing is held for certain prizes.
2.
any scheme for the distribution of prizes by chance.
3.
any happening or process that is or appears to be determined by chance: to look upon life as a lottery.
A contest in which tokens are distributed or sold, the winning token or tokens being secretly predetermined or ultimately selected in a random drawing.
A selection made by lot from a number of applicants or competitors: The state uses a lottery to assign spaces in the campground.
An activity or event regarded as having an outcome depending on fate: They considered combat duty a lottery.
[French loterie, probably from Dutch loterije, from Middle Dutch, from lot, lot.]
[lot-uh-ree] 
ə