shortchange

verb

short·​change ˈshȯrt-ˈchānj How to pronounce shortchange (audio)
shortchanged; shortchanging; shortchanges

transitive verb

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 Porter said California is being shortchanged by the system, since its 39 million people get 2% of the earmarks—a percentage point for each senator. David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024 But the substance of his complaint — that the alliance was being shortchanged by many of its members — was fair. The Editors, National Review, 13 Feb. 2024 Last season, a spot opened unexpectedly on the New York Philharmonic’s calendar, and the ensemble snapped up the preternaturally gifted musician for an electric, smoothly confident rendition of Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto, which didn’t shortchange the work’s stormy passions. The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2024 TikTok’s tactics are obvious: use its platform power to hurt vulnerable artists and try to intimidate us into conceding to a bad deal that undervalues music and shortchanges artists and songwriters as well as their fans. Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 31 Jan. 2024 To frame him solely as a rebounder, though, would shortchange a more complete player who vice-gripped the program’s scoring title until Brandon Heath hurdled him 27 years later. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2024 Some essential items that often get shortchanged when families reduce their income and seek to cut expenses include saving for college and retirement. Mia Taylor, Parents, 20 Jan. 2024 In a city struggling to solve murders in the first place, the refusal of police to take part in routine court proceedings compounds St. Louis’ criminal justice challenges, and leaves victims shortchanged. Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 29 Nov. 2023 In recent years, the area has been particularly shortchanged. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 13 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shortchange.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shortchange was in 1903

Dictionary Entries Near shortchange

Cite this Entry

“Shortchange.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortchange. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shortchange

verb
short·​change -ˈchānj How to pronounce shortchange (audio)
1
: to give less than the correct amount of change to
2
: to give less than due : cheat

More from Merriam-Webster on shortchange

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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