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 (ˌgerryˈmandering)
noun
Word origin
C19: from Elbridge Gerry, US politician + (sala)mander; from the salamander-like outline of an electoral district reshaped (1812) for politicalpurposes while Gerry was governor of Massachusetts
gerrymander in American English
(ˈdʒɛriˌmændər; orig. ˈgɛrɪˌmændər)
US
verb transitive
1.
to divide (a voting area) so as to give one political party a majority in as many districts as possible or weaken the voting strength of an ethnic or racial group, urban population, etc.
2.
to manipulate unfairly so as to gain advantage
verb intransitive
3.
to engage in gerrymandering
noun
4.
a redistricting of voting districts to the advantage of one party or disadvantage of a group, region, etc.
Word origin
satirical coinage after Gerry, governor of Mass. when the method was employed (1812) + salamander (the shape of the redistricted Essex County)
Examples of 'gerrymander' in a sentence
gerrymander
The union did not gerrymander the candidate selection.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The democratic system was so gerrymandered and corrupt that it barely deserved the name.