lot·tery 
/ˈlɑ:təri/ noun
plural lot·ter·ies /ˈlɑ:təri/ noun 1 [count] : a way of raising money for a government, charity, etc., in which many tickets are sold and a few of the tickets are chosen by chance to win prizes
▪ Which states have lotteries? ▪ a national lottery ▪ a lottery ticket ▪ She acted like she'd just won the lottery. [=won a lottery run by a government] ▪ Do you play the lottery? [=do you buy lottery tickets?] 2 : a system used to decide who will get or be given something by choosing names or numbers by chance [count] ▪ They held a lottery to determine who could get a green card. [noncount] ▪ Room assignments are determined by lottery. 3 [singular] : an event or situation in which what happens is decided by luck or chance
▪ Life's a lottery, isn't it? It all depends on luck.
▪ Which states have lotteries? ▪ a national lottery ▪ a lottery ticket ▪ She acted like she'd just won the lottery. [=won a lottery run by a government] ▪ Do you play the lottery? [=do you buy lottery tickets?]
▪ Life's a lottery, isn't it? It all depends on luck.
