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
The potential benefits would go to education, in particular, as well as to health care, child care and a slew of other state services that Democrats say have been shortchanged by a system that has been largely untouched for nearly 20 years.
—
The Denver Post, Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2026
Still, breakfast shifts are often underestimated and shouldn't be shortchanged, Sheik added.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
But if director Michael Greene’s sophomore feature shortchanges the musical performances that should be its main selling point for a pedestrian crime-drama arc, this nonetheless emerges a painless diversion, one likely to become a guilty-pleasure favorite for fans of the acts showcased.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
Such breakdowns undermine public trust and shortchange riders and workers alike.
—Brian Bryant, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 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.
The Denver Post, Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2026
Still, breakfast shifts are often underestimated and shouldn't be shortchanged, Sheik added.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
But if director Michael Greene’s sophomore feature shortchanges the musical performances that should be its main selling point for a pedestrian crime-drama arc, this nonetheless emerges a painless diversion, one likely to become a guilty-pleasure favorite for fans of the acts showcased.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
Such breakdowns undermine public trust and shortchange riders and workers alike.
—Brian Bryant, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortchange
Cite this Entry
“Shortchange.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortchange. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
