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.

Other Word Forms

• gerrymanderer noun
• gerrymandering noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gerrymander¹

1812, 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

A longtime opponent of gerrymandering, the bow-tie-wearing Palo Alto physicist bankrolled the 2010 ballot measure that created the independent commission to draw California’s congressional districts.

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Historically, Section 2 has served as the enforcement mechanism that allows plaintiffs to challenge voting maps that dilute minority vote strength through racial gerrymandering..

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In the past, the court has said racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional.

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In an era of brazen, bad-faith redistricting efforts, the prospects of winning a fair election as a newly gerrymandered candidate are slim, especially for Democrats.

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Organizations such as Democracy Action Network, Indivisible and 50501 were part of the effort to create a “human chain” to demonstrate solidarity against unfair congressional district gerrymandering.

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Related Words

• contrive 
• engineer 
• finesse 
• manipulate