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

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

How to use gerrymander in a sentence

But then the question becomes, how do you undo gerrymandering?
Seriously, Democrats: You’re Done in Dixie | Michael Tomasky | December 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But gerrymandering has cold cocked the pendulum weight, stopped it dead.
Up to a Point: In Defense of Lobbyists | P. J. O’Rourke | October 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Or imagine getting politicians to get rid of the gerrymandering that put them in office.
Change the Constitution in Six Easy Steps? It Won’t Be That Simple, Justice Stevens | Richard L. Hasen | April 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Between gerrymandering and geographic sorting, Republicans have a solid grip on the House of Representatives.
Give Up on the House Majority, Democrats. It’s Not Happening | Jamelle Bouie | January 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
I do believe that we owe this Republican legislature to that gerrymandering.
Oliver Stone on the Tyranny of Obama’s ‘Exceptional’ America | Andrew Romano | October 17, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

This opens the way, of course, to a good deal of what in America would be known as official 'gerrymandering.'
France and the Republic | William Henry Hurlbert
For contemporary allusions to this first example of gerrymandering, see Writings of Washington, ix.
Patrick Henry | Moses Coit Tyler
He proceeded to enlarge upon his plan for gerrymandering the state—to the advantage of the Democratic party, of course.
A Spoil of Office | Hamlin Garland
For a naked, avowed plan of gerrymandering no Government surely ever did beat this one.
My Own Story | Emmeline Pankhurst
The once famous phrase, Gerrymandering, some of our readers may remember.
Atlantic Monthly, Volume 6, No. 38, December, 1860 | Various

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.

Browse