gerrymander

[ jer-i-man-der, ger- ]

noun

1. U.S. Politics. the dividing of a state, county, etc., into election districts so as to give one political party a majority in many districts while concentrating the voting strength of the other party into as few districts as possible.

verb (used with object)

1. U.S. Politics. to subject (a state, county, etc.) to a gerrymander.

gerrymander

/ ˈdʒɛrɪˌmændə /

verb

1. to divide the constituencies of (a voting area) so as to give one party an unfair advantage
2. to manipulate or adapt to one's advantage

noun

1. an act or result of gerrymandering

gerrymander

1. To change the boundaries of legislative districts to favor one party over another. Typically, the dominant party in a state legislature (which is responsible for drawing the boundaries of congressional districts) will try to concentrate the opposing party's strength in as few districts as possible, while giving itself likely majorities in as many districts as possible.

Derived Forms

• ˌgerryˈmandering, noun

Other Words From

• gerry·mander·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gerrymander¹

1812, Americanism; after E. Gerry (governor of Massachusetts, whose party redistricted the state in 1812) + (sala)mander, from the fancied resemblance of the map of Essex County, Mass., to this animal, after the redistricting

Word History and Origins

Origin of gerrymander¹

C19: from Elbridge Gerry, US politician + ( sala ) mander ; from the salamander-like outline of an electoral district reshaped (1812) for political purposes while Gerry was governor of Massachusetts

Example Sentences

By this measure, Florida’s new map is this close to being the worst gerrymander in the nation.

From FiveThirtyEight

He also breaks down what this gerrymander might mean for the 2022 midterms.

From FiveThirtyEight

Still, there are wild cards to keep in mind, such as lawsuits that could overturn potential gerrymanders.

From FiveThirtyEight

A minority can take over the House of Representatives through partisan gerrymanders.

From Time

We often talk about individual features of our system — voter suppression, extreme gerrymanders, the electoral college — as anti-majoritarian.

From Washington Post

If you don't, I shall give the documents in the gerrymander affair to the papers the day after you fail.

From Project Gutenberg

It happens every few years that the newspapers are full of more or less excited talk about a "gerrymander."

From Project Gutenberg

It was entirely a party fight; for, by grace of the last gerrymander, the nomination carried with it the certainty of election.

From Project Gutenberg

It is not settled who is entitled to the authorship of the word "Gerrymander," for which a number of claimants have appeared.

From Project Gutenberg

It was from this incident that the word "gerrymander," so often heard in politics in these days, took its name.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• contrive
• engineer
• finesse
• manipulate