Sortition: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Sortition noun. Choosing officials or decision-makers by drawing lots rather than by election.
How to say it
sor-TISH-un/sɔːˈtɪʃ(ə)n/
3 syllables, stressed on the second (TISH).
Sortition in a sentence
Ancient Athens filled many public offices by sortition, trusting chance over campaigning.
The citizens' assembly was picked by sortition, so a retired plumber sat next to a student.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- selection by lot
- lottery
- random selection
Opposite:
- election
Where sortition comes from
From Latin sortitio, a casting of lots, from sors, a lot.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The citizens' assembly was picked by _____, so a retired plumber sat next to a student.
- sortition
- utopia
- hustings
Show the answer
sortition: The citizens' assembly was picked by sortition, so a retired plumber sat next to a student.