gerrymandering

noun

ger·​ry·​man·​der·​ing ˈjer-ē-ˌman-d(ə-)riŋ 

also ˈger-;

originally ˈger-

: the practice of dividing or arranging a territorial unit into election districts in a way that gives one political party an unfair advantage in elections

To an untrained eye, the proposed boundaries look like the etchings of a mapmaker on heavy pharmaceuticals. In reality, it's a masterpiece of diabolical gerrymandering.

—Carl Hiaasen

Bipartisan gerrymandering following the 2000 reapportionment produced hundreds of safe Democratic seats, hundreds of safe Republican seats, and not much else.

—Peter Beinart

compare cracking, packing

Examples of gerrymandering in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some experts have argued the only solution to this problem is to implement some sort of federal limits to partisan gerrymandering. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026

Today’s gerrymandering wars are nothing other than an attempt by both parties to predetermine the outcome of elections. —Frederic J. Fransen, Boston Herald, 9 June 2026

Other states followed with their own partisan gerrymandering. —ABC News, 7 June 2026

Ah, yes, partisan gerrymandering, where Democrats carve up the map of congressional districts to disenfranchise Republicans and violate the will of the voters. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

gerrymander entry 2 + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gerrymandering

• meandering
• philandering
• pandering
• slandering