verb

gerrymander

/ˈɡɛriˌmændər/ · say it: GER·ee·man·der

to draw voting districts unfairly to favor one party

In From the Front Page

In more detail

1. (verb) to change the boundaries of an electoral district in an unfair way to benefit one political party

2. (verb) to manipulate or arrange something dishonestly for unfair advantage

Examples

1. The ruling party gerrymandered the voting districts to ensure they would win the next election.
2. Critics claimed the company gerrymandered the rules to prevent competitors from entering the market.

How to use gerrymander

Gerrymander is a political term referring to the deliberate redrawing of electoral districts to gain partisan advantage, though it has broadened metaphorically to mean any dishonest manipulation of systems for unfair gain. The noun gerrymandering is more commonly used in everyday discourse than the verb form itself. The term carries a clear negative connotation and is primarily used in formal or political contexts.

Common phrases

gerrymander districts
gerrymander boundaries
gerrymander seats
electoral gerrymandering
partisan gerrymandering

Synonyms

rig · manipulate · fix · skew · distort

Word family

gerrymander (verb) · gerrymandering (noun) · gerrymandered (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes overextend the term to refer to any unfair redistricting without considering whether partisan advantage is the specific motivation.

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