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

Racial gerrymandering versus Black voting power A challenge to Louisiana's congressional map by non-Black voters tests the balancing act states must strike, complying with a civil rights law that protects the voting power of a racial minority while not discriminating against other voters. —Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 26 June 2025

Their complaint made two constitutional arguments: racial gerrymandering under the 14th Amendment and vote dilution under the 14th and 15th Amendments. —Alex Thomas, Arkansas Online, 7 June 2025

His name is on the case in which the U.S. Supreme Court gave its blessing to partisan gerrymandering. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2025

South Carolina officials appealed the lower court's decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, which threw out the racial gerrymandering ruling. —Alex Thomas, Arkansas Online, 7 June 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