gerrymandering

noun

ger·​ry·​man·​der·​ing ˈjer-ē-ˌman-d(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce gerrymandering (audio)
 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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web That may be why asset gerrymandering isn’t a major factor in federal redistricting fights. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 14 Oct. 2022 The House last year passed a bill to protect voting rights and restrict gerrymandering. David Leonhardt, New York Times, 17 Sep. 2022 If the theory is affirmed by the court, gerrymandering is also a top concern for the election experts. Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2022 But this month the state Justices outdid themselves, ruling 4-3 that unlawful gerrymandering also could be a legal excuse to undo two constitutional provisions that voters strongly approved. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 28 Aug. 2022 In 2018, Democrats won every major statewide office, including governor and attorney general, races where gerrymandering isn’t in play. David A. Lieb, Anchorage Daily News, 3 July 2022 June 27, 2019 - Reads a dissent following the 5-4 decision that gerrymandering is beyond the reach of the court. CNN, 24 Apr. 2022 There was already suspicion in 2018 when statehouse Republicans headed off a ballot initiative to limit partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts in the state. cleveland, 29 Dec. 2021 But gerrymandering is still a redistricting tool — just for a different purpose. George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2021 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gerrymandering was in 1812

Dictionary Entries Near gerrymandering

Cite this Entry

“Gerrymandering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gerrymandering. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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