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

Partisan gerrymandering has thrust further uncertainty into Democrats' hopes to regain control of both chambers. — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 19 July 2026

In 2019, the Supreme Court effectively greenlighted the practice in a 5-4 decision by the conservative majority, decreeing that partisan gerrymandering was beyond the purview of federal courts. — Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

The North Carolina legislature's recent efforts to disenfranchise Black voters through gerrymandering and voter identification laws are nothing if not the grandchildren of the grandfather clause. — CBS News, 12 July 2026

Florida’s 24th District is one of a shrinking number of Black-majority districts in the South after sweeping Republican gerrymandering efforts this year with a strong legacy of accessible community-first leadership. — Raisa Habersham july 1, Miami Herald, 1 July 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