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Definition of "shortchange" [shortchange]

  • To give (someone) less change than is due in a transaction. (verb-transitive)
  • Informal To treat unfairly or deceitfully; cheat: "a deceitful cook who skimps on ingredients and shortchanges guests” ( Jacques Pepin). (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "shortchange" in a sentence
  • "There's no incentive to shortchange a nonprofit -- you can't steal a halo."
  • ""The Big Payback" may be a book that favors desk-jockeys over disc jockeys, but Charnas doesn't shortchange the passion that both parties poured into hip-hop."
  • "“We must not shortchange them, or ourselves, by denying them the resources they need.”"