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

Speaking of which… How might the gerrymandering gamesmanship between the parties play out in the fall? —Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026

Davis is facing a tough reelection bid in a district that has leaned further to the right after several rounds of gerrymandering by state Republicans. —Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026

The Democratic governor's order calls the Legislature in on April 14 to pass a constitutional amendment barring the use of partisan gerrymandering in the state's redistricting process. —Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 3 Mar. 2026

In our recent, not-yet-successful efforts to reform gerrymandering abuses in Illinois, my associates and I have received disquieting, even distressing, feedback about our state. —Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 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