sweepstakes Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a lottery in which the prize consists of the money paid by the participants

WordNet

Sweep"stakes` noun
Definitions
  1. A winning of all the stakes or prizes; a sweepstake.
  2. sing. ∨ pl. The whole money or other things staked at a horse race, a given sum being put up for each horse, all of which goes to the winner, or is divided among several, as may be previously agreed.
  3. A race for all the sums staked or prizes offered.

Webster 1913