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

Having galvanized Newsom’s national profile among Democrats for 2028, Prop 50 seeks to blunt the Texas-originating gerrymandering attempts by Republicans to retain control of the House next year. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2025

The net effect of all the gerrymandering won't be fully known until elections are held. —Christian Orozco, NBC news, 11 Nov. 2025

In the Land o’ Lincoln, Lincoln today would be an endangered species, thanks to Democrat gerrymandering. —Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025

Republicans started this gerrymandering spat in Texas and are now playing the victim because California responded. —The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2025

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