gerrymander

[jer-i-man-der, ger-] / ˈdʒɛr ɪˌmæn dər, ˈgɛr- /

VERB

to divide into election districts in a politically-motivated way

Synonyms

STRONGEST

contrive engineer finesse manipulate

STRONG

distort doctor finagle interfere with juggle machinate tamper with

WEAK

influence

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On Monday the Court stopped a racial gerrymander in New York.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

For his part, Graves said he never believed his map was an illegal racial gerrymander, as Garcia’s lawsuit asserts.

From Salon • Mar. 1, 2024

Manning, who currently represents the 6th District, said last week that she would change her mind and run again for Congress should litigation alleging the retooled 6th District is an illegal racial gerrymander is successful.

From Washington Times • Dec. 14, 2023

The infamous discussion between three council members and a labor leader focused, after all, on how best to gerrymander the politicians’ districts to benefit them and their Latino allies and hurt their rival colleagues.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2022

Further, as the legislature apportioned the various electoral districts, the dominant party could, by means of the gerrymander, entrench itself even in unfriendly localities.

From The Boss and the Machine; a chronicle of the politicians and party organization by Orth, Samuel Peter