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
Carl HiaasenBipartisan 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
Peter BeinartExamples of gerrymandering in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Because Kelly opposes mid-decade redistricting and would not call a special session herself, no gerrymandering effort can take place before January unless two thirds of lawmakers in the House and Senate agree to convene.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
The congressional map proposed under Prop 50 would split up communities of color around the state and dilute their voting power, opponents of the gerrymandering measure argued in a report released Wednesday.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2025
But the gerrymandering fight for control of Congress is upending not only those races but downballot contests, too.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025
Talarico, whose plans to run were reported last week but made official on Tuesday, gained popularity as Democrats in his state began fighting a GOP gerrymandering push.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2025
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Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
The congressional map proposed under Prop 50 would split up communities of color around the state and dilute their voting power, opponents of the gerrymandering measure argued in a report released Wednesday.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2025
But the gerrymandering fight for control of Congress is upending not only those races but downballot contests, too.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025
Talarico, whose plans to run were reported last week but made official on Tuesday, gained popularity as Democrats in his state began fighting a GOP gerrymandering push.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gerrymandering
Cite this Entry
“Gerrymandering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gerrymandering. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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