raffles
B1Informal to neutral; common in community, school, and charity contexts. The verb form is slightly less common than the noun.
Definition
Meaning
A type of lottery in which participants buy tickets for a chance to win prizes, often used for fundraising purposes.
As a verb: to offer something as a prize in a raffle; to raise money through a raffle. The term can also refer to the act of gambling or obtaining something by chance more broadly. Historically, also a plural surname or refers to the Raffles hotel and brand, synonymous with luxury.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a count noun (e.g., 'We held three raffles'). The concept centers on chance, fundraising, and a communal or charitable purpose. It is not typically used for large-scale state lotteries.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical in both varieties. The term is equally common.
Connotations
Strongly associated with village fetes, school fairs, and charity events in the UK. In the US, similarly associated with school fundraisers, church events, and non-profit organizations.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in community and fundraising contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[ORG] raffles [ITEM] (to raise money)[PERSON] raffles off [ITEM]enter a raffle for [PRIZE]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “raffle something off”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in contexts of corporate social responsibility (e.g., 'The company is raffling a holiday for staff').
Academic
Very rare; not an academic term.
Everyday
Common in community and social event planning (e.g., 'They're having a raffle at the summer fair').
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The local pub will raffle a hamper this weekend.
- They raffled off a vintage car for the children's hospital.
American English
- The church is raffling a quilt to raise funds.
- They decided to raffle off the signed guitar.
adjective
British English
- The raffle prizes were displayed on the table.
- Please buy your raffle tickets here.
American English
- The raffle winner will be announced at 5 PM.
- She held the winning raffle stub.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We bought tickets for the school raffle.
- The prize in the raffle was a big cake.
- The sports club raffled a signed football to raise money for new equipment.
- Did you win anything in the Christmas raffle this year?
- Numerous local businesses donated items to be raffled off at the gala.
- Organising a successful raffle requires careful promotion and ticket management.
- As a primary fundraising mechanism, the silent raffle generated significantly more revenue than anticipated.
- The ethics of raffling high-value items for charitable purposes are occasionally debated.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a RAF of tickets being shuffled and sold for a chance to win – a RAFF-le.
Conceptual Metaphor
A RAFFLE IS A GAME OF SOCIAL LUCK (emphasizing community participation and low stakes).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'раффл' (a direct loanword, acceptable but informal). The more standard Russian term is 'лотерея' (lotereya). 'Розыгрыш' (rozygrysh) is a broader term for a draw or contest.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'raffle' as an uncountable noun (*'We did some raffle'). Correct: 'We held a raffle.'
- Confusing 'raffle' (for fundraising) with 'lottery' (often larger, state-run).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most defining characteristic of a raffle?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is neutral to informal. It's perfectly acceptable in community and news contexts but not typically used in formal legal or financial documents, where 'lottery' or 'prize draw' might be preferred.
A tombola is a specific type of raffle, common in the UK, where tickets are drawn from a rotating drum, and prizes are immediately awarded. In a standard raffle, tickets are sold in advance, and the draw happens at a set time.
Yes. To 'raffle' something or to 'raffle something off' means to offer it as a prize in a raffle (e.g., 'They raffled off a car').
This is a proper noun with a separate etymology (from Sir Stamford Raffles). It has no direct linguistic connection to the lottery meaning but has led to the brand being associated with luxury, which can sometimes influence the word's perception in travel contexts.