shortchange
verb
short·change ˈshȯrt-ˈchānj 
shortchanged; shortchanging; shortchanges
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
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
Rejuvenation is known for their hardware, and the brand certainly doesn’t want to shortchange you in the bath department either. —
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 16 Apr. 2026 Spoelstra didn’t want to shortchange the Hornets winning their first NBA postseason home game since 2016. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026 The Hall of Fame, in fact, did nothing to combat its history of shortchanging female performers. —Dan Kelly april 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026 Drivers also told us the company would shortchange them by altering delivery contracts- or rate cons - which confirm how much a broker has agreed to pay to move freight - a percentage of that goes to the driver. —Ashley Velie, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shortchange
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 16 Apr. 2026 Spoelstra didn’t want to shortchange the Hornets winning their first NBA postseason home game since 2016. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026 The Hall of Fame, in fact, did nothing to combat its history of shortchanging female performers. —Dan Kelly april 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026 Drivers also told us the company would shortchange them by altering delivery contracts- or rate cons - which confirm how much a broker has agreed to pay to move freight - a percentage of that goes to the driver. —Ashley Velie, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shortchange
Cite this Entry
“Shortchange.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/shortchange. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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