Definition

1. Noun:

   • An act of manipulating electoral district boundaries: "gerrymander" refers to the practice of drawing the boundaries of electoral districts in a way that gives one political party an unfair advantage over its rivals, often resulting in oddly shaped districts.

2. Verb:

   • To manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency: To "gerrymander" means to divide a region into political voting districts in an unfair, irregular, or cunning manner to favor one party or class.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The new electoral map was a clear gerrymander designed to dilute the opposition's vote.
  • Critics accused the state legislature of engaging in a blatant gerrymander.

• Verb:

  • The ruling party was accused of trying to gerrymander the state to secure more seats.
  • Politicians have gerrymandered districts to protect incumbents for decades.

Advanced Usage

• "To be gerrymandered": Describes a district or region whose boundaries have been manipulated.

  • The northern part of the city has been gerrymandered into three different districts.

• "Racial gerrymandering": A specific type of gerrymandering that dilutes the voting strength of racial minority groups.

  • The court ruled that the redistricting plan constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

Variants and Related Words

• Gerrymandering (n): The action or practice of manipulating electoral boundaries. This is the more common nominal form.
  • The issue of partisan gerrymandering was a major topic in the election.

Synonyms

• Manipulate (electoral boundaries)
• Rig (districts)
• Redistrict unfairly

Related Phrases

• Partisan gerrymandering: Gerrymandering done to advantage a specific political party.

  • The lawsuit focused on the effects of extreme partisan gerrymandering.

• Cracking and Packing: Two common tactics used in gerrymandering. "Cracking" spreads opposition voters across many districts to dilute their power, while "Packing" concentrates them into a few districts to limit their influence elsewhere.

Noun

1. an act of gerrymandering (dividing a voting area so as to give your own party an unfair advantage)

Verb

1. divide unfairly and to one's advantage; of voting districts