Well-read · Politics & society
Gerrymander: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Gerrymander verb. To redraw the boundaries of voting districts so that one party or group gains an unfair advantage.
How to say it
JERR-ee-man-duh/ˈdʒɛrɪmandə/
4 syllables, stressed on the first (JERR). Forms: gerrymandered, gerrymandering.
Gerrymander in a sentence
Critics said the new map had been gerrymandered so cleverly that one district looked like a lobster.
An independent commission was set up to stop either side trying to gerrymander the seats.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- rig
- manipulate
- fix
Where gerrymander comes from
Named after Elbridge Gerry, Governor of Massachusetts, whose 1812 district map was said to look like a salamander.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
An independent commission was set up to stop either side trying to _____ the seats.
- prorogue
- gerrymander
- coerce
Show the answer
gerrymander: An independent commission was set up to stop either side trying to gerrymander the seats.