gerrymander

[jer-i-man-der, ger-] /ˈdʒɛr ɪˌmæn dər, ˈgɛr-/
noun
1.
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)
2.
U.S. Politics. to subject (a state, county, etc.) to a gerrymander.
Origin
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
Related forms
gerrymanderer, noun
Examples from the web for gerrymander
  • It was a gerrymander too ambitious for its own good.
  • The political process has been hijacked by a gerrymander.
  • Now, all this is being placed in serious jeopardy by a bald-faced gerrymander that is completely unnecessary.
British Dictionary definitions for gerrymander

gerrymander

/ˈdʒɛrɪˌmændə/
verb
1.
to divide the constituencies of (a voting area) so as to give one party an unfair advantage
2.
to manipulate or adapt to one's advantage
noun
3.
an act or result of gerrymandering
Derived Forms
gerrymandering, noun
Word Origin
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
Word Origin and History for gerrymander

1812 as both a noun and verb, American English, from Elbridge Gerry + (sala)mander. Gerry, governor of Massachusetts, was lampooned when his party redistricted the state in a blatant bid to preserve an Antifederalist majority. One Essex County district resembled a salamander, and a newspaper editor dubbed it Gerrymander. Related: Gerrymandered; gerrymandering.

gerrymander in Culture
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.