Gerrymander: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ณ๏ธ
gerrymander
[ หdสษr.iหmรฆn.dษ ]
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:
๐ต๐น manipulaรงรฃo eleitoral
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเฅเคฐเคฟเคฎเฅเคเคกเคฐ
๐ฉ๐ช Wahlkreismanipulation
๐ฎ๐ฉ gerrymandering
๐บ๐ฆ ะณะตัะผัะฝะดะตั
๐ต๐ฑ gerrymandering
๐ฏ๐ต ใฒใชใใณใใผ
๐ซ๐ท gerrymandering
๐ช๐ธ gerrymandering
๐น๐ท gerrymandering
๐ฐ๐ท ๊ฒ๋ฆฌ๋งจ๋๋ง
๐ธ๐ฆ ุชูุงุนุจ ุงูุชุฎุงุจู
๐จ๐ฟ gerrymandering
๐ธ๐ฐ gerrymandering
๐จ๐ณ ้ๅบๅๅๆๆง
๐ธ๐ฎ gerrymandering
๐ฎ๐ธ gerrymandering
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะณะตัะธฬะผะตะฝะดะตั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแ แแแแแแแ แ
๐ฆ๐ฟ gerrymandering
๐ฒ๐ฝ 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.
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- 37133 dreariest
- 37134 sniffle
- 37135 federalized
- 37136 gerrymander
- 37137 atypically
- 37138 dullard
- 37139 lepidopteran
- ...