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

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

Talarico’s first priority as a senator would be passing legislation to limit giving through PACs and super PACs; to forbid federal legislators to trade stocks; and to outlaw gerrymandering. —Tad Friend, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026

Such a huge collapse is hard to imagine today, in part because partisan gerrymandering has already made so few districts competitive. —David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 23 Feb. 2026

The 9th District has become more favorable to the Democratic incumbent looking to hold onto his seat after last year’s gerrymandering effort. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 15 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