reapportionment
noun
re·ap·por·tion·ment
ˌrē-ə-ˈpȯr-shən-mənt 
plural reapportionments
: an act or result of reapportioning something : the process or result of making a new proportionate division or distribution of something
especially, US law
: the reassignment of representatives proportionally among the states in accordance with changes in population distribution
As one might expect, the legislative majority did not care to realign districts to represent the current distribution of the population, because reapportionment would endanger some of their seats. —
Robert H. Bork
Robert H. Bork During the Warren Court period the federal courts revolutionized criminal procedure law, created modern antidiscrimination law, recaptured the First Amendment from the shambles of McCarthyism, and restructured American politics through reapportionment. —Elizabeth Mensch
Elizabeth Mensch Bipartisan gerrymandering following the 2000 reapportionment produced hundreds of safe Democratic seats, hundreds of safe Republican seats, and not much else. —Peter Beinart
Peter Beinart Examples of reapportionment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But if population trends continue, Republican states stand to gain at least 10 House seats in the 2030 reapportionment.
—The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 28 Aug. 2025
But when a state like Texas takes gerrymandering to a new extreme with a mid-census-cycle reapportionment of districts, we would all be directly affected by the changing composition of a House that no longer reflects the will of the people.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2025
In general, Vassar said, redistricting follows the reapportionment of Congressional seats that happens in accordance with Census data.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The independent commission would remain intact for the reapportionment after the 2030 census, and a new map would only be used if Texas or another state redraws its lines first.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reapportionment
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 28 Aug. 2025
But when a state like Texas takes gerrymandering to a new extreme with a mid-census-cycle reapportionment of districts, we would all be directly affected by the changing composition of a House that no longer reflects the will of the people.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2025
In general, Vassar said, redistricting follows the reapportionment of Congressional seats that happens in accordance with Census data.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The independent commission would remain intact for the reapportionment after the 2030 census, and a new map would only be used if Texas or another state redraws its lines first.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reapportionment
Cite this Entry
“Reapportionment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reapportionment. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share