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Gerrymander: meaning, definitions and examples

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gerrymander

 

[ หˆdส’ษ›r.iหŒmรฆn.dษš ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

political manipulation

To gerrymander is to manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favor a particular political party or group. This practice aims to maximize electoral advantages by concentrating or diluting votes in certain areas. The term comes from the name of Elbridge Gerry, a Massachusetts governor, whose 1812 redistricting plan resembled a salamander. Gerrymandering can significantly impact election outcomes by altering the demographic makeup of constituencies.

Synonyms

arrange, manipulate, redistrict

Examples of usage

  • The party tried to gerrymander the districts to ensure a majority.
  • Gerrymandering often leads to uncompetitive elections.
  • Activists protested against the attempts to gerrymander the state.
  • The judge ruled against the gerrymandered map put forward by the legislature.

Translations

Translations of the word "gerrymander" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น manipulaรงรฃo eleitoral

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค—เฅ‡เคฐเคฟเคฎเฅˆเค‚เคกเคฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Wahlkreismanipulation

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ gerrymandering

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะณะตั€ะผั–ะฝะดะตั€

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ gerrymandering

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‚ฒใƒชใƒžใƒณใƒ€ใƒผ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท gerrymandering

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ gerrymandering

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท gerrymandering

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ฒŒ๋ฆฌ๋งจ๋”๋ง

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุชู„ุงุนุจ ุงู†ุชุฎุงุจูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ gerrymandering

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ gerrymandering

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้€‰ๅŒบๅˆ’ๅˆ†ๆ“ๆŽง

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ gerrymandering

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ gerrymandering

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะณะตั€ะธฬะผะตะฝะดะตั€

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒ”แƒ แƒ˜แƒ›แƒแƒœแƒ“แƒ”แƒ แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ gerrymandering

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ gerrymandering

Etymology

The term 'gerrymander' originates from the name of Elbridge Gerry, who was the governor of Massachusetts in the early 19th century. In 1812, he signed a bill that redistricted the state in a way that favored his political party, the Democratic-Republicans, against the Federalists. The new district shapes included one that reportedly resembled a salamander. A political cartoonist, Gilbert Stuart, is credited with coining the term by combining Gerry's name with 'salamander.' Since then, gerrymandering has been a term used to describe manipulation of electoral boundaries across the United States and beyond, often criticized for undermining democratic processes.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,136, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.