What does lotto mean?
A lotto is a lottery based on choosing numbers, with prizes awarded to people whose selections match the numbers drawn. The word is especially familiar in British English, where it often refers to a national or regional lottery, but it is also used in the United States and other English-speaking countries. People commonly talk about playing the lotto, buying a ticket or line, waiting for the draw, and winning the lotto. Its jackpot and smaller prizes create a mixture of ordinary entertainment, anticipation, and the possibility of a substantial windfall. Although the activity is sometimes treated as routine recreation, lotteries can also attract attention because of their large prizes and the combination of chance, publicity, and hopes of sudden wealth.
nounA lottery in which participants choose numbers and win prizes if their selections match those drawn. The word can also refer more broadly to a game of chance conducted through a lottery.
- A lottery, especially one in which players select numbers in the hope of matching those drawn.
- A game of chance conducted through a lottery.
"She won a small prize in the lotto after checking the results online."
"The lotto result was announced on Saturday evening."
"He plays lotto regularly, buying a new line each week."
The plural is used when referring to different lotteries or games, though in many contexts the name of a particular lottery is used unchanged.
"Several popular lottos operate throughout the United Kingdom."
Lotto turns a handful of chosen numbers into a day of suspense: the draw may be over in minutes, but the anticipation can last all week.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of lotto
The word comes from Italian, where lotto means a lottery or a share or portion. Italian lotto developed through a diminutive form of lotto, ultimately associated with the Germanic sense of a share or allotted portion, which is also the source of English lot and related forms such as allot. English borrowed the word in the 19th century, initially in connection with state or public lotteries and later with more general number-based games of chance.
How lotto is actually used
In British English, “lotto” is common and usually refers to the national or regional number-based lottery. In American English, the term is also used, though “lottery” is more common in general reference.
Easily confused with lotto
A lottery is the general term for a game in which tickets or numbers are drawn for prizes, while a lotto usually specifies a particular number-based lottery or lottery system.