Matthew Reiss
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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.
Examples of gerrymander in a Sentence
Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 24 Mar. 2025
The latest case before the court involves Louisiana's congressional map, which was redrawn last year to add a second majority-Black district to comply with Section 2, but then was found to be a racial gerrymander that violated the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2025
Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
College football is an eyeballs game, its conferences gerrymandered by television executives for profit.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Gerrymander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gerrymander. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gerrymander
1 of 2 noun
ˈjer-ē-ˌman-dər
gerrymander
2 of 2 verbNoun
from Elbridge Gerry, former governor of Massachusetts, and salamander; so called from the shape of an election district formed during Gerry's term in office
Legal Definition
gerrymander
1 of 2 noun
gerrymander
2 of 2 transitive verbNoun
Elbridge Gerry (1744–1814) + salamander; from the shape of an election district formed during Gerry's governorship of Massachusetts
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