sortition

[ sawr-tish-uhn ]

noun

1. the casting or drawing of lots.

sortition

/ sɔːˈtɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of casting lots

Word History and Origins

Origin of sortition¹

1590–1600; < Latin sortītiōn- (stem of sortītiō ), equivalent to sortīt ( us ) (past participle of sortīrī to draw lots, derivative of sors lot, portion; sort, -ite ² ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of sortition¹

C16: from Latin sortitio, from sortiri to cast lots

Example Sentences

Citizens’ assemblies are the latest incarnation of an idea called sortition, the random selection of representatives, that dates back to classical Athens.

From Scientific American

Alternatively, taking a cue from ancient Greece, policies could be written or decided on through sortition—juries, that is.

From The Guardian

Officials said he planned to use the bomb to kill himself and gain attention for a political belief called sortition, in which politicians are chosen at random for office instead of being elected.

From Washington Post

Rosenfeld told investigators that the purpose of the dramatic suicide he planned was to draw attention to his belief in “sortition,” it said.

From Reuters

They say he wanted to draw attention to his belief in "sortition" - a political theory that advocates the random selection of government officials.

From BBC