gerrymander

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

See synonyms for gerrymander on Thesaurus.com

noun

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)

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

Origin of gerrymander

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

Other words from gerrymander

ger·ry·man·der·er, noun

Words Nearby gerrymander

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gerrymander in a sentence

By this measure, Florida’s new map is this close to being the worst gerrymander in the nation.
Ron DeSantis Drew Florida An Extreme Gerrymander | Nathaniel Rakich (nathaniel.rakich@fivethirtyeight.com) | July 14, 2022 | FiveThirtyEight
He also breaks down what this gerrymander might mean for the 2022 midterms.
Texas May Have The Worst Gerrymander In The Country | Nathaniel Rakich (nathaniel.rakich@fivethirtyeight.com) | February 28, 2022 | FiveThirtyEight
Still, there are wild cards to keep in mind, such as lawsuits that could overturn potential gerrymanders.
5 Things To Watch Going Into The Midterms | Kaleigh Rogers | January 4, 2022 | FiveThirtyEight
A minority can take over the House of Representatives through partisan gerrymanders.
I Spent 7 Months Studying Supreme Court Reform. We Need to Pack the Court Now | Kermit Roosevelt III | December 10, 2021 | Time
We often talk about individual features of our system — voter suppression, extreme gerrymanders, the electoral college — as anti-majoritarian.
Democrats just launched a missile at the GOP’s fortress of minority rule | Greg Sargent | August 25, 2021 | Washington Post

If you don't, I shall give the documents in the gerrymander affair to the papers the day after you fail.
The Grafters | Francis Lynde
It happens every few years that the newspapers are full of more or less excited talk about a "gerrymander."
Talks on the study of literature. | Arlo Bates
It was entirely a party fight; for, by grace of the last gerrymander, the nomination carried with it the certainty of election.
The Gentleman From Indiana | Booth Tarkington
It is not settled who is entitled to the authorship of the word "gerrymander," for which a number of claimants have appeared.
Nooks and Corners of the New England Coast | Samuel Adams Drake
It was from this incident that the word "gerrymander," so often heard in politics in these days, took its name.
The Greater Republic | Charles Morris

British Dictionary definitions for gerrymander

gerrymander

/ (ˈdʒɛrɪˌmændə) /

verb

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

noun

an act or result of gerrymandering

Origin of gerrymander

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

Derived forms of gerrymander

gerrymandering, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for gerrymander

gerrymander

[ (jer-ee-man-duhr) ]

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.

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