gerrymander
[ jer-i-man-der, ger- ]
/ ˈdʒɛr ɪˌmæn dər, ˈgɛr- /
noun
U.S. Politics.
the dividing of a state, county, etc., into election districts so as to give one political party a majority in many districts while concentrating the voting strength of the other party into as few districts as possible.
verb (used with object)
U.S. Politics.
to subject (a state, county, etc.) to a gerrymander.
Origin of gerrymander
1812,
Americanism; after E.
Gerry (governor of Massachusetts, whose party redistricted the state in 1812) +
(sala)mander, from the fancied resemblance of the map of Essex County, Mass., to this animal, after the redistricting
OTHER WORDS FROM gerrymander
ger·ry·man·der·er, nounWords nearby gerrymander
gerontomorphosis,
gerontophobia,
gerontoxon,
gerota's capsule,
gerry,
gerrymander,
gers,
gersdorffite,
gershom,
gershwin,
gershwin, george
Example sentences from the Web for gerrymander
British Dictionary definitions for gerrymander
gerrymander
/ (ˈdʒɛrɪˌmændə) /
verb
to divide the constituencies of (a voting area) so as to give one party an unfair advantage
to manipulate or adapt to one's advantage
noun
an act or result of gerrymandering
Derived forms of gerrymander
gerrymandering, nounWord Origin for gerrymander
C19: from Elbridge
Gerry, US politician + (
sala)
mander; from the salamander-like outline of an electoral district reshaped (1812) for political purposes while Gerry was governor of Massachusetts
Cultural definitions for gerrymander
gerrymander
[ (jer-ee-man-duhr) ]
To change the boundaries of legislative districts to favor one party over another. Typically, the dominant party in a state legislature (which is responsible for drawing the boundaries of congressional districts) will try to concentrate the opposing party's strength in as few districts as possible, while giving itself likely majorities in as many districts as possible.