shortchange

American  

[shawrt-cheynj] / ˈʃɔrtˈtʃeɪndʒ /

verb (used with object)

shortchanged, shortchanging

1. to give less than the correct change to.

2. to deal with unfairly or dishonestly, especially to cheat.

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Other Word Forms

• shortchanger
  noun

Etymology

Origin of shortchange

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95

Explanation

To shortchange is to give someone less than you owe them. If you hand over a five dollar bill for a one-dollar lemonade and get three dollars back, the lemonade seller shortchanged you. The useful word shortchange is an American English coinage from the 1880s. It comes from the money sense of the noun change, and the idea that someone has deliberately withheld some of the change they owe you, leaving you short. You can use shortchange even when you're not talking about cash: "Our math teacher promised a pizza party on the last day of school, but she really shortchanged us! All we got was a bag of pretzels."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shortchange shortchanged shortchanging

"You have insurance charges, floor charges, and various other levies that make production unsustainable," he told AFP, repeating allegations that contractors collude to keep prices low and "shortchange" producers.

From Barron's ● May 15, 2026

To be clear, we don’t want to shortchange our daughter just because the focus seems to be on the boys.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 6, 2026

But some economists and academics say that would shortchange taxpayers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025

“If prosecutors limited themselves to following laws instead of leading on justice, it would shortchange both public safety and the fairness we seek in our criminal justice system,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2025

To make sure that workers at state farms do not shortchange the military, the army stations soldiers at all three thousand of them throughout the harvest season.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden

The California Teachers Assn. quickly asserted that schools are being shortchanged, estimating that $3.9 billion is being withheld.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2026

If it’s bona-fide Arthur Conan Doyle, I am being decidedly shortchanged.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 3, 2026

In these kinds of situations where family and finance are mixed up, somebody always ends up feeling shortchanged, and no one will ever admit to being wrong.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 19, 2026

Fans were also left feeling shortchanged after the 38-year-old's set featured just three special guests - Popcaan, Rema and Vybz Kartel.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2025

I decide not even to complain about having my first paycheck withheld or the ways we’re shortchanged every day.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

Financial planners say they are waiting for more information to better understand the implications, but issued a note of caution about Americans shortchanging their retirement-savings goals in an effort to purchase a home.

From Barron's ● Jan. 16, 2026

The United Parcel Service UPS -0.70%decrease; red down pointing triangle has been hit with a lawsuit for allegedly shortchanging thousands of seasonal delivery workers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 15, 2025

However, plan details, doctors and drug coverage can change from year to year, and sticking with the same plan can end up shortchanging the beneficiary.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 26, 2025

Bloemeke filed complaints accusing the SBA of shortchanging Golden Ticket Cinemas and then failing to disburse those funds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2024

“Nelson,” he said, “you are shortchanging me. You are giving Gaet-sewe more tobacco than me.”

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela