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

This ruling violates the Fair Districts Amendment, passed by Florida voters to protect minority representation and keep partisan gerrymandering in check. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025

The initiative process in general and the widespread popularity of reproductive rights among Florida voters presented a challenge that conservative gerrymandering could not control. —Mark Dorosin, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 July 2025

State legislatures have used those powers to pass gerrymandering, voter suppression and other counter-majoritarian laws. —Stephen Legomsky, The Conversation, 17 June 2025

Additionally, Madigan championed the state’s extreme gerrymandering by drawing the maps during the 1980s, 2000s and 2010s, plus influenced the 2020s effort. —Matt Paprocki, Chicago Tribune, 17 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