shortchange

verb

short·​change ˈshȯrt-ˈchānj 

shortchanged; shortchanging; shortchanges

transitive verb

1

: to give less than the correct amount of change to

2

: to deprive of or give less than something due : cheat

was shortchanged out of a promotion

shortchanger noun

Synonyms

• beat
• bilk
• bleed
• cheat
• chisel
• chouse
• con
• cozen
• defraud
• diddle
• do
• do in
• euchre
• fiddle
• fleece
• flimflam
• gaff
• hose [slang]
• hustle
• mulct
• nobble [British slang]
• pluck
• ream
• rip off
• rook
• screw
• shake down
• short
• skin
• skunk
• squeeze
• stick
• stiff
• sting
• sucker
• swindle
• thimblerig
• victimize

Examples of shortchange in a Sentence

The cashier shortchanged me. I gave her 10 dollars to pay for an $8.95 book, and she only gave me a dollar back.

The band shortchanged its fans by playing for only 30 minutes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Errors Deciphering Market Research Organizations typically don’t shortchange market research, and the value good research brings is universally acclaimed, but people tend to de-layer this research further due to confirmation bias. —Mustansir Paliwala, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

And that's how Illinois shortchanged Wisconsin for the first time — but not the last. —Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2024

The family had been bitterly divided by competition over the estate, and David felt shortchanged. —Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024

Disney, meanwhile, claims that such a deal would shortchange the value of its networks. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 3 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

shortchange

verb

short·​change -ˈchānj 

1

: to give less than the correct amount of change to

2

: to give less than due : cheat