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

Legal scholars had warned that Texas’ bid would invite accusations and legal challenges of racial gerrymandering that California’s maps would not.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Federal prosecutors accuse the Democratic governor and Secretary of State Shirley Weber of mandating "racially gerrymandered congressional districts" - a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.

Read more on BBC

The redistricting plan, which Democrats say openly is an attempt to dilute Republicans’ voting power in California, was championed by Newsom as a way to offset GOP gerrymandering in Texas and other GOP states.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The lawsuit, filed by the California Republican Party, asserts the new maps are based on racial gerrymandering, favoring Hispanic voters.

Read more on Salon

“The end result is a map that manipulates district lines in the name of bolstering the voting power of Hispanic Californians because of their race. Our Constitution does not tolerate this racial gerrymander.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• contrive 
• engineer 
• finesse 
• manipulate