sweep‧stake /ˈswiːpsteɪk/ British English, sweepstakes American English noun [countable]
[Date: 1700-1800; Origin: sweepstake 'someone who takes all the winnings in a game' (15-18 centuries), from sweep + stake]

1. a type of betting in which the winner receives all the money risked by everyone else

2. American English a type of competition in which you have the chance to win a prize if your name is chosen

3. American English a competition, election etc in which no one knows who will be the winner:
the presidential sweepstakes

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲