gerrymander

Meaning

Verb

1. (derogatory, transitive) To divide a geographic area into voting districts in such a way as to give an unfair advantage to one party in an election.
2. (broadly, derogatory, transitive) To draw dividing lines for other types of districts in an unintuitive way to favor a particular group or for other perceived gain.
3. (broadly, derogatory, transitive) To change the franchise or voting system in such a way as to give an unfair advantage to one party in an election.
4. (Ireland, UK, broadly, derogatory, transitive) To deliberately bring in voters of one's own party or displace voters of another party from a voting district in such a way as to give an unfair advantage to one party in an election.

Noun

1. (derogatory) The act of gerrymandering.
2. (derogatory) A voting district skewed by gerrymandering.

Translations

manipulieren

frau electoral

tupinada

falsificar les eleccions

Wahlkreisschiebungen

απάτη

μεροληπτικός εκλογικός καταμερισμός

découpage électoral

charcutage électoral

verkiezingscampagne

غشّ

fraude electoral

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈdʒɛɹiˌmændə/

Etymology

Blend of Gerry + salamander (named after Elbridge Gerry), from the similarity in shape to a salamander of an electoral district created when Gerry was the governor of Massachusetts. Coined by editors of the Boston Gazette 26 March 1812, in text likely written by Nathan Hale and Benjamin and John Russell, and accompanying a cartoon by Elkanah Tisdale.