gerrymandering

See also: Gerrymandering

English

The original salamander-shaped constituency district, the original term "The Gerry-mander", in context of the original publication

Etymology

Blend of Gerry +‎ salamander. Elbridge Gerry was the governor of Massachusetts (1812) and associated with a constituency said to be shaped like a salamander with the political boundaries modified for political purposes by Gerry.

Despite Gerry's surname beginning with a hard G (/ɡ/), gerrymandering is typically pronounced with a soft G (/d͡ʒ/), as a spelling pronunciation.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈdʒɛriːˌmændəɹɪŋ/
  • (Standard Southern British) IPA^(key): /ˈdʒɛɹɪjˌmandəɹɪŋ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈdʒɛɹiˌmændəɹɪŋ/

Noun

gerrymandering (usually uncountable, plural gerrymanderings)

1. (politics) The practice of redrawing electoral districts to gain an electoral advantage for a political party.

Translations

redrawing electoral districts to gain an electoral advantage for a political party — see gerrymander

Verb

gerrymandering

1. present participle and gerund of gerrymander