Dictionary

shortchange en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ʃɔːtˈtʃeɪnd͡ʒ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ʃɔɹtˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒ/ (General-American)

Etymology

From short + change.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction.
   • I got shortchanged! I gave him $10 for a $5 item and he only gave me $1 back.
2. (broadly, transitive) To deprive (someone or something) of something due; to treat unfairly; to cheat, deceive; to half-ass.
   • Dr. [James D.] Watson’s tell-all memoir, “The Double Helix,” had also provoked his colleagues when it was published in 1968, infuriating them for, in their view, elevating himself while shortchanging others who were involved in the project. 2025 November 7, Cornelia Dean, “James D. Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
   • This article's sparse discussion of tax-policy implications shortchanges the subject.
   • Specific evidence that the United States is being short-changed in the cultural exchange program with the Soviet Union has been offered by Representative Michael Feighan of Ohio, chairman of the House subcommittee and the joint Senate House Committee on Immigration and Nationality Policy. 1964 June 16, “Short End of Exchange”, in The Indianapolis Star, volume 62, number 11, Indianapolis, Ind., page 14:
   • The elective class was easy, but in the end I was shortchanging myself by taking it.

Forms

Deriveds

shortchanger

Translations (21)

pl źle traktować (to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly) · de betrügen (to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly) · es sisar (to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction) · vi thối thiếu tiền (to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction) · fi antaa väärin takaisin (to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction) · pl źle wydać resztę (to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction) · km អាប់លុយខ្វះ (to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction) · cmn 坑 (to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction) · fi pettää (to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly) · ru обману́ть (to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly) · cmn 虧待 /亏待 (to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly) · vi ăn chặn tiền thối (to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction) · ru обма́нывать (to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly) · pl źle potraktować (to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly) · fi huijata (to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly) · de zu wenig Wechselgeld geben (to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction) · pl źle wydawać resztę (to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction) · nl bedriegen (to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly) · cmn 欺騙 /欺骗 (to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly) · ru обсчи́тывать (to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction) · ru обсчита́ть (to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction)