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
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School shutdowns shortchanged America’s children.
—
Debra J. Saunders, Orange County Register, 11 Mar. 2025
Two years later, the father approached Schaefer when he was again shortchanged on a paycheck, investigators said.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2025
At that time, board members faced lawsuits by many charter schools who alleged they had been shortchanged out of funding from a 2018 referendum.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2025
Some said that the politicians and developers purposely made the neighborhood worse by shortchanging it on rubbish collection and other services, for instance, justifying their demolition strategy.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortchange
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Debra J. Saunders, Orange County Register, 11 Mar. 2025
Two years later, the father approached Schaefer when he was again shortchanged on a paycheck, investigators said.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2025
At that time, board members faced lawsuits by many charter schools who alleged they had been shortchanged out of funding from a 2018 referendum.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2025
Some said that the politicians and developers purposely made the neighborhood worse by shortchanging it on rubbish collection and other services, for instance, justifying their demolition strategy.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortchange
Cite this Entry
“Shortchange.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortchange. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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