shortchange

[ shawrt-cheynj ]

/ ˈʃɔrtˈtʃeɪndʒ /

Save This Word!

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.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of shortchange

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95

OTHER WORDS FROM shortchange

shortchanger, noun

Words nearby shortchange

short bill, short-billed marsh wren, shortboard, shortbread, shortcake, shortchange, short circuit, short column, shortcoming, short-commons, short con

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

How to use shortchange in a sentence

Unless Congress acts, those who can afford to pay the most will continue to pay nothing, or relatively little, shortchanging urgent priorities.
To Build Back Better, Tax Ultra-Wealthy Families Like Ours|Ian Simmons|September 29, 2021|Time
School finance experts have argued the math shortchanges districts that serve a higher percentage of low-income and at-risk students, who are more expensive to teach.
Held Back: Inside a Lost School Year|by Annie Waldman, ProPublica, photography by Cydni Elledge|June 28, 2021|ProPublica
Beneficiaries also said they didn’t know Congress was shortchanging the trust all these years.
The U.S. Owes Hawaiians Millions of Dollars Worth of Land. Congress Helped Make Sure the Debt Wasn’t Paid.|by Rob Perez, Honolulu Star-Advertiser|May 7, 2021|ProPublica
Duque says it spends nearly $1 billion a year on the migrants and has been shortchanged by donor nations.
'You Don’t Have to Be Rich to Do the Right Thing.' Colombia's President Iván Duque on Welcoming Venezuelan Refugees|Photographs by Fabiola Ferrero for TIME|March 20, 2021|Time

Critics say the highway expansion proposal would cause too much environmental damage, shortchange mass transit and encourage auto-dependent sprawl development.
Maryland reveals potential toll rates for proposed HOT lanes on Beltway, I-270|Katherine Shaver|February 26, 2021|Washington Post
Like all other government entities in the U.S., Puerto Rico has many people to shortchange before it will stiff its bondholders.
Wall Street’s Disconnect|Daniel Gross|October 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Did they really think he would diss Obama, or shortchange him—or do anything but support him wholeheartedly?
Obama, Clinton Scored Back to Back Home Runs With Their Speeches|Robert Shrum|September 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST

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