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
There are also legal challenges against current boundaries in Georgia, South Carolina and Utah, where Democrats have raised gerrymandering arguments.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
In terms of racial gerrymandering, the Supreme Court has said that this can be challenged.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 21 July 2025
These rules require districts to be compact, contiguous and in compliance with federal laws protecting against racial gerrymandering.
—Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 17 July 2025
This board has long decried Illinois’ gerrymandering problem, a system that lets politicians pick their voters instead of the other way around.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
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Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
In terms of racial gerrymandering, the Supreme Court has said that this can be challenged.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 21 July 2025
These rules require districts to be compact, contiguous and in compliance with federal laws protecting against racial gerrymandering.
—Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 17 July 2025
This board has long decried Illinois’ gerrymandering problem, a system that lets politicians pick their voters instead of the other way around.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 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 6 Aug. 2025.
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