gerrymander

noun ger·ry·man·der \ ˈjer-ē-ˌman-dər also ˈger- ; orig ˈger- \

Definition of gerrymander

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

Recent Examples of gerrymander from the Web

The Republican gerrymanders are the most flagrant because they were created in states, including Pennsylvania, that are competitive on a statewide level.

— richard wolf, USA TODAY, "Political maps under fire as Supreme Court case on tailor-made districts looms," 24 Aug. 2017
The U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down both North Carolina’s congressional and state legislative maps as unconstitutional racial gerrymanders.

— wendy weiser and daniel weiner, Time, "Democracy In North Carolina Could Disappear. Is Your State Next?," 23 Aug. 2017
But a majority has been unable to agree on any neutral standard by which such a gerrymander might be identified.

— rick esenberg, National Review, "Define ‘Gerrymander’ Precisely: The Supreme Court Tackles the Impossible," 22 Aug. 2017
Here in the Keystone State, with GOP majorities in both state houses and a Republican governor in Tom Corbett, lawmakers produced the worst partisan gerrymander anyone has ever seen.

— will bunch, Philly.com, "How Brady's blind ambition could kill Obamacare," 31 July 2017
These districts are sort of the reverse of the fragile gerrymanders and the underperforming incumbents.

— nate cohn, New York Times, "Democrats’ Best Chance to Retake the House? 8 Types of G.O.P. Districts to Watch," 26 June 2017
The legislature itself is committed to preserving its advantage and cannot be expected to undo their gerrymanders.

— bill whitford, Time, "Why Wisconsin Is Not a Democracy," 23 June 2017
In some other states, where Democrats are in political control, gerrymanders disadvantaging Republicans have been adopted.

— bill whitford, Time, "Why Wisconsin Is Not a Democracy," 23 June 2017
Others have said partisan gerrymanders may violate the Constitution.

— adam liptak, Alaska Dispatch News, "Justices to hear major challenge to partisan gerrymandering," 20 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gerrymander.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of gerrymander

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1812

See Words from the same year

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

gerrymander

verb

Definition of gerrymander

gerrymandered; gerrymandering \-d(ə-)riŋ\

transitive verb

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

See gerrymander defined for English-language learners

Examples of gerrymander in a Sentence

gerrymandering urban districts to give rural voters a majority

Recent Examples of gerrymander from the Web

The problem, according to Democrats, is that the Republicans have unfairly gerrymandered the districts.

— rick esenberg, National Review, "Define ‘Gerrymander’ Precisely: The Supreme Court Tackles the Impossible," 22 Aug. 2017
Gerrymandering along partisan lines has survived legal challenges, but the Supreme Court will revisit the topic this year in a Wisconsin lawsuit that experts say could be a landmark case.

— collin binkley, The Seattle Times, "Math experts join brainpower to help address gerrymandering," 17 Aug. 2017
After being elected to the House in 2010, his congressional district was gerrymandered into what, for almost any Republican, can be a lifelong seat.

— john baer, Philly.com, "Barletta vs. Casey, hit or miss?," 1 Aug. 2017
Political professionals can be a bit sniffy about gerrymandering’s importance as an explanation for government dysfunction.

— The Economist, "Arnie lends some muscle to the campaign against gerrymandering," 22 July 2017
These optimistic folks relaxed and smiled as every voting district in the United States was gerrymandered.

— Cincinnati.com, "Column: When perceived hope is lost," 28 June 2017
And unlike a few states, Wisconsin does not have voter initiative, a process that has allowed citizens in California and Arizona to enact non-partisan districting commissions and remove from legislatures the ability to gerrymander.

— bill whitford, Time, "Why Wisconsin Is Not a Democracy," 23 June 2017
The lawsuit had criticized the district, currently represented by U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond of New Orleans, as racially gerrymandered...

— tribune news service, NOLA.com, "Draw election districts to favor political parties? Supreme Court to decide legality," 19 June 2017
The issue of gerrymandering — creating districts that often are oddly shaped and with the aim of benefiting one party — is centuries old.

— andrew nusca, Fortune, "Supreme Court May Take Up High-Stakes Fight over Electoral Maps," 18 June 2017