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

But despite the delays, his budget request would keep overall school funding to the level required in the state constitution — meaning no return to the budget stabilization factor, an adjustment that’s been used to shortchange education to pay for other priorities. —Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 1 Nov. 2024

Lauper’s setlist doesn’t shortchange on the hits, but half of the fun of the show is her off-the-cuff banter, delivered in that indelible, no B.S. Brooklyn fashion. —Joe Lynch, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2024

Simple choices from yesterday (staying up too late, shortchanging yourself on sleep, worrying about a tough work situation) are all major energy-draining activities that can easily spill into the next day. —Elizabeth Freedman, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

That’s too bad for Amy Adams, who runs with everything the story throws at her but gets shortchanged by the script. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 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