What does gerrymandered mean?
Gerrymandered describes an arrangement, especially an electoral district map, that has been deliberately shaped to favor one political party, candidate, or group rather than to reflect a fair distribution of voters. The word is usually critical: a map described as gerrymandered is considered manipulative and unfair, although the term is sometimes used in a broader figurative sense for any biased arrangement. Its history comes from the early nineteenth-century political maneuver called a gerrymander, named after Elbridge Gerry, a Massachusetts governor whose name was turned into the label by combining “Gerry” with “salamander.” Gerrymandering can alter which party wins an election by arranging districts so that supporters of one side are efficiently concentrated while opposing voters are dispersed. The word is therefore useful in political discussion as well as in broader commentary about systems, institutions, or procedures that have been structured to advantage one participant over another.
Having electoral district boundaries drawn so as to favor a particular political party, candidate, or group.
"The election took place under a map of gerrymandered districts that heavily favored one party."
The adjective is strongly evaluative and is normally used to characterize a politically unfair arrangement.
To have manipulated the boundaries of electoral districts in order to favor a particular political party, candidate, or group.
"The lawmakers had gerrymandered the districts before the election, concentrating opposition voters in a few constituencies."
The verb form is strongly critical and is chiefly used in political and electoral contexts.
The word gerrymandered comes from a political maneuver named after Elbridge Gerry, whose name was humorously reshaped into a new word.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gerrymandered come from?
The word developed from “gerrymander,” an early nineteenth-century term associated with the American politician Elbridge Gerry. The label arose by combining “Gerry” with “salamander,” apparently as a humorous reference to a Massachusetts legislative district map. “Gerrymandered” is the past tense and past participle of the verb “to gerrymander,” meaning to manipulate electoral districts in this way.
Related word forms
How gerrymandered is actually used
This is a politically loaded term, usually used critically to describe electoral boundaries that unfairly advantage one party. It is especially common in political commentary in the United States, while related forms are also used in British English and other English-speaking countries.