raffle
B1Neutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
A lottery in which people buy tickets for a chance to win a prize, often used for fundraising.
The act of selling tickets for such a lottery; to dispose of something by means of such a lottery.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily associated with charity events, school fundraisers, and community activities. Implies a relatively low-cost ticket and prizes that are often donated.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. The term 'raffle' is standard in both varieties. In some UK contexts, 'prize draw' might be used in more formal or commercial settings, but 'raffle' remains common.
Connotations
Both carry connotations of community, charity, and chance. Slightly more informal in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to raffle something offto hold a raffle for somethingto enter a raffleto win something in a raffleVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “raffle something off”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in the context of corporate social responsibility events or promotional giveaways.
Academic
Very rare; not an academic term.
Everyday
Common, especially in contexts of community groups, schools, sports clubs, and charity events.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The village fête will raffle off a hamper.
- They are raffling a weekend in Paris to raise funds.
American English
- The church raffled off a quilt.
- We're going to raffle the signed baseball.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I bought a raffle ticket.
- Did you win the raffle?
- The school is holding a raffle to buy new books.
- She won a bottle of wine in the Christmas raffle.
- They managed to raise over £500 by raffling off donated gifts.
- All proceeds from the raffle will go to the local animal shelter.
- The charity circumvented strict gambling laws by classifying the event as a voluntary donation with a complimentary raffle entry.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a RAF of tickets being sold to raise Funds for a good cause, with a LittLE chance of winning.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANCE IS A GAME; FUNDRAISING IS A GAMBLE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'раффл' (a type of fabric). The English 'raffle' is best translated as 'лотерея', 'розыгрыш', or 'раффл' (as a direct borrowing in specific contexts).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'raffle' as a synonym for any competition (e.g., a skill-based contest).
- Incorrect verb pattern: 'They raffled a car' is correct; 'They raffled for a car' is incorrect.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely context for a raffle?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very similar. A raffle is a type of lottery, but 'lottery' often refers to large-scale, government-run games (e.g., the National Lottery), while 'raffle' typically implies a smaller, local event for fundraising.
Yes. The verb form is common, especially in the phrasal verb 'raffle off' (e.g., 'They raffled off a car').
In a raffle, participants buy tickets for a chance to win a prize, with the winner chosen randomly. In an auction, participants bid against each other to buy an item, with the highest bidder winning.
It is a specific type of raffle, common in the UK, where tickets are drawn from a rotating drum and prizes are immediately awarded. The terms are often used interchangeably in casual UK speech.
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