gerrymander

1 of 2

noun

ger·​ry·​man·​der ˈjer-ē-ˌman-dər 

 also  ˈger-;

originally

ˈger- 

1

: the act or method of gerrymandering

2

: a district or pattern of districts varying greatly in size or population as a result of gerrymandering

three new gerrymanders

gerrymander

2 of 2

verb

gerrymandered; gerrymandering; gerrymanders

transitive verb

1

: to divide or arrange (a territorial unit) into election districts in a way that gives one political party an unfair advantage : to subject to gerrymandering

The government gerrymandered urban districts to create rural majorities.

—Matthew Reiss

2

: to divide or arrange (an area) into political units to give special advantages to one group

gerrymander a school district

Did you know?

Elbridge Gerry was a respected politician in the late 1700s and early 1800s. He signed the Declaration of Independence, served as governor of Massachusetts (1810-1811), and was elected vice president under James Madison. While governor, he tried to change the shape of voting districts to help members of his political party get elected. His system resulted in some very oddly shaped districts, including one (Gerry’s home district) that looked a little like a newt. Upon seeing a map of the bizarre regional divisions, a member of the opposing party drew feet, wings, and a head on Gerry’s district and said “That will do for a salamander!” Another member called out “Gerrymander!” Thus gerrymander became a term for such political schemes.

Examples of gerrymander in a Sentence

Verb

gerrymandering urban districts to give rural voters a majority

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Some of most prominent cases that Schimel, now a Waukesha County Circuit Court judge, handled while Wisconsin attorney general included appeals to the state’s legislative maps after they were struck down in 2016 as an unconstitutional gerrymander. —Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 28 Nov. 2024

When the Democrats in the Legislature then rejected that IRC consensus, the D.C. Democrats thought that Albany would put in place a new gerrymander. —John Faso, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2024

Verb

Yes, but: The Ohio Supreme Court repeatedly ruled in 2022 that the commission's maps were unconstitutionally gerrymandered to favor Republicans. —Sam Allard, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

The 2nd District became the center of a long-running legal battle after a federal court ruled the state had illegally gerrymandered the district to weaken the power of Black voters, who make up roughly a quarter of the state’s population. —Brandon Conradis, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Elbridge gerry + salamander; from the shape of an election district formed during Gerry's governorship of Massachusetts

Verb

derivative of gerrrymander entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

gerrymander

1 of 2 noun

ger·​ry·​man·​der ˌjer-ē-ˈman-dər  ˈjer-ē-ˌman-dər 

 also  ˌger-,

ˈger-

: the act or result of gerrymandering

gerrymander

2 of 2 verb

gerrymandered; gerrymandering

-d(ə-)riŋ

: to divide (as a state) into election districts so as to give one political party an advantage over its opponents

Etymology

Noun

from Elbridge Gerry, former governor of Massachusetts, and salamander; so called from the shape of an election district formed during Gerry's term in office

Legal Definition

gerrymander

1 of 2 noun

ger·​ry·​man·​der ˈjer-ē-ˌman-dər also and originally ˈger-ē- 

1

: the act or method of gerrymandering

2

: a district or pattern of districts varying greatly in size or population as a result of gerrymandering

gerrymander

2 of 2 transitive verb

gerrymandered; gerrymandering

1

: to divide (a territorial unit) into election districts to give one political party an electoral majority in a large number of districts while concentrating the voting strength of the opposition in as few districts as possible

2

: to divide (an area) into political units to give special advantages to one group

gerrymander a school district

Etymology

Noun

Elbridge Gerry (1744–1814) + salamander; from the shape of an election district formed during Gerry's governorship of Massachusetts