raffle

1 of 3

verb

raf·​fle ˈra-fəl 

raffled; raffling ˈra-f(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: to engage in a raffle

transitive verb

: to dispose of by means of a raffle

raffle off a turkey

raffle

2 of 3

noun (1)

: a lottery in which the prize is won by one of numerous persons buying chances

raffle

3 of 3

noun (2)

: rubbish

especially : a jumble or tangle of nautical equipment

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• chaff
• deadwood
• debris
• dreck
• drek
• dross
• dust
• effluvium
• effluvia
• garbage
• junk
• litter
• offal
• offscouring
• refuse
• riffraff
• rubbish
• scrap
• spilth
• trash
• truck
• waste

Examples of raffle in a Sentence

Noun (2)

the front lawn was littered with the raffle that the roofers had left behind

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The team wants to raffle Cody Bellinger to the highest bidder (the Yankees, Braves, and Astros have interest) but may need to pay down some of his $25,000,000 salary. —Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

The organization, which pays Sutton about $30,000 a year as its executive director, funds its activities through donations and re-selling or raffling premium tickets to top concerts and sporting events. —Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024

Noun

The event will feature Mexican cuisine, family-friendly activities, traditional music, a Posada procession, a raffle and local vendor market and more. —Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 13 Dec. 2024

Tunes for Tots, an official Toys for Tots event, will host a raffle and all around good time from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday in the outdoor music garden at Güero's Taco Bar, 1412 S. Congress Ave. —Shonda Novak, Austin American-Statesman, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English rafle, a dice game, from Middle French, dice game in which all the stakes can be won in a throw, literally, rake for a fire, from Middle High German raffel rake for a fire, from raffen to snatch, gather

Noun (2)

probably from French rafle act of snatching, sweeping, from Middle French, rake for a fire

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1680, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

1709, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1543, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

raffle

1 of 2 verb

raf·​fle ˈraf-əl 

raffled; raffling ˈraf-(ə-)liŋ 

: to dispose of by a raffle

raffle off a turkey

raffle

2 of 2 noun

: the sale of chances for a prize whose winner is the one whose ticket is picked at a drawing