Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
gerrymander
verb
/ JER-ee-man-der /
Hard
Meaning
To manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency so as to favour one party or class.
Origin / Etymology
A blend of ''Gerry'' (Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts) and ''salamander'', describing the shape of a district drawn in 1812.
Synonyms
manipulate
rig
redraw
distort
Antonyms
apportion fairly
balance
equalise
delimit neutrally
Example Sentence
"Independent commissions are meant to prevent the ruling party from being able to gerrymander constituencies before an election."
🎯 UPSC Usage
Relevant to GS Paper 2 on electoral reforms and the delimitation exercise. Cite it when contrasting India''s independent Delimitation Commission with partisan boundary-drawing elsewhere, and in essays on free and fair elections and the integrity of representative democracy.
Relevant Subjects
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