shortchange

[ shawrt-cheynj ]

/ ˈʃɔrtˈtʃeɪndʒ /

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See synonyms for: shortchange / shortchanged on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), short·changed, short·chang·ing.

to give less than the correct change to.

to deal with unfairly or dishonestly, especially to cheat.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of shortchange

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95

OTHER WORDS FROM shortchange

shortchanger, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use shortchange in a sentence

The bill for Wills and Kate, both 30, was short change compared to the ever-extravagant Prince Charles.
The Nine Juiciest Bits from The Royal Accounts|Tom Sykes|July 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He says he's doing very well over there, and has only come home for a short change.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
Fluff, railway ticket clerks slang for short change given by them.
The Slang Dictionary|John Camden Hotten
From flim-flam (returning short change) to burglary is but a step, provided one has the nerve.
The Autobiography of a Thief|Hutchins Hapgood

British Dictionary definitions for shortchange

short-change

verb (tr)

to give less than correct change to

slang to treat unfairly or dishonestly, esp by giving less than is deserved or expected

Derived forms of short-change

short-changer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012