shortchange
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to give less than the correct change to.
-
to deal with unfairly or dishonestly, especially to cheat.
Other Word Forms
- shortchanger noun
Etymology
Origin of shortchange
An Americanism dating back to 1890–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
You don’t want to shortchange your future simply because you feel an urgent desire to retire now.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 5, 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
"AustralianSuper is resolute the value and future value of Origin is better in the hands of AustralianSuper members and other shareholders than a private equity consortium planning to shortchange them," the pension fund said.
From Reuters • Nov. 23, 2023
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
