gerrymander - v.为使某党或某人获胜而不公正地划分选区以增加支 持方投票者;,不公正操纵,欺骗 n. 改变选举区,欺骗
N.
1: the act or method of gerrymandering
2: a district or pattern of districts varying greatly in size or population as a result of gerrymandering
three new gerrymanders
gerrymander
V.
gerrymandered; gerrymandering; gerrymanders
transitive verb
1: to divide or arrange (a territorial unit) into election districts in a way that gives one political party an unfair advantage : to subject to gerrymandering
The government gerrymandered urban districts to create rural majorities.
—Matthew Reiss
2: to divide or arrange (an area) into political units to give special advantages to one group
gerrymander a school district
Did you know?
Elbridge Gerry was a respected politician in the late 1700s and early 1800s. He signed the Declaration of Independence, served as governor of Massachusetts (1810-1811), and was elected vice president under James Madison. While governor, he tried to change the shape of voting districts to help members of his political party get elected. His system resulted in some very oddly shaped districts, including one (Gerry’s home district) that looked a little like a newt. Upon seeing a map of the bizarre regional divisions, a member of the opposing party drew feet, wings, and a head on Gerry’s district and said “That will do for a salamander!” Another member called out “Gerrymander!” Thus gerrymander became a term for such political schemes.
Example Sentences
Verb
gerrymandering urban districts to give rural voters a majority
Noun
In spring 2022, Santos’ race suddenly became competitive after a state court undid a Democratic gerrymander and adopted new congressional boundaries friendlier to Republicans.
—Nicholas Fandos, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Jan. 2023
Spink complains that Wisconsin’s Republicans are now parlaying that decade-old gerrymander into a more egregious one aimed to lock in a veto-proof majority.
—Steven Greenhouse, The New Republic, 6 May 2022