gerrymander

American  

[jer-i-man-der, ger-] / ˈdʒɛr ɪˌmæn dər, ˈgɛr- /

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.

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verb (used with object)

gerrymanders, present (3rd person singular) gerrymandered, past participle, past gerrymandering present participle

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

gerrymander British  

/ 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

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noun

1. an act or result of gerrymandering

gerrymander Cultural  

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.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• gerrymanderer
  noun
• gerrymandering
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has gerrymandered
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have gerrymandered
  perfect
• has been gerrymandering
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• gerrymanders
  singular 3rd person
• gerrymandering
  participle
• are gerrymandering
  progressive
• have been gerrymandering
  perfect progressive
• is gerrymandering
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am gerrymandering
  progressive 1st person singular

Past

• had gerrymandered
  perfect
• gerrymandered
  participle
• were gerrymandering
  progressive plural
• gerrymandered
  simple
• was gerrymandering
  progressive singular
• had been gerrymandering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will gerrymander
  simple
• will have gerrymandered
  perfect
• will have been gerrymandering
  perfect progressive
• will be gerrymandering
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of gerrymander

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

Explanation

Some politicians change the boundaries of their voting districts in order to benefit themselves or their political party. To manipulate the boundaries like this — often viewed as unfair — is to gerrymander. The verb gerrymander first appeared in 1812 when Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry redrew district boundaries, hoping it would help his party in an upcoming senate election. Then somebody noticed that the new district looked like a salamander, so they combined Gerry and -mander to create the new word gerrymander. And then a newspaper printed a cartoon with a giant salamander making fun of Gerry, which is what happens to politicians who don’t behave.

Example Sentences

Justice Samuel Alito’s majority opinion gives a detailed history of Section 2 and a tour of the Court’s messy racial gerrymander jurisprudence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

Opponents of the retaliatory gerrymander include former California Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 1, 2025

Ultimately, of course, even if California adopts a principled, automated redistricting system, Texas may gerrymander anyway.

From Slate • Aug. 19, 2025

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Alabama can’t use its congressional map with only one majority Black district, reasoning it was likely a discriminatory racial gerrymander that runs afoul of the Voting Rights Act.

From Washington Times • Jun. 8, 2023

Will those who seek to excuse the injustice done to the minority in each electorate by the present system of election seriously contend that the same argument justifies the gerrymander?

From Proportional Representation Applied To Party Government by Ashworth, T. R. (Thomas Ramsden)

Related Words

• contrive
• engineer
• finesse
• manipulate