What does shortchange mean?
Shortchange means to cheat someone by giving them less money than they are owed or than they reasonably expected. The word is most often used when a shopkeeper returns incorrect change, a seller pays too little, or an employer or organization gives people an unfairly inadequate deal. It can also be used more broadly for any deliberate act that deprives someone of a fair share, as in complaints that a new policy shortchanged workers. Although the expression has a somewhat informal, conversational tone, it is widely understood in British and American English. As a noun, a “shortchange” refers to an instance of such cheating or underpaying. The word’s vivid history comes from its literal elements: “short” means insufficient, while “change” refers both to returned coins and, figuratively, to an exchange or transaction.
To give someone less money than they are owed or expected to receive, especially by deception; to cheat someone unfairly.
"The cashier shortchanged him by failing to return the correct amount of change."
An act or instance of cheating someone by underpaying or depriving them of what they are owed.
"Customers complained that the discount was a shortchange rather than a genuine saving."
The noun form is uncommon but established; plural shortchanges refers to separate instances of cheating or underpaying.
"The report documented several shortchanges by dishonest ticket sellers."
What began as a warning about receiving too little change now means cheating someone out of what they are owed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of shortchange
Shortchange developed in 19th-century English from the combination of short and change. It originally referred to giving a customer insufficient change, especially when returning coins from a purchase, and later extended to the broader sense of cheating or depriving someone of a proper share. Its core vocabulary belongs to a family of words connected with the old English sense of an exchange or commercial transaction, including change and exchange.
How shortchange is actually used
Shortchange is relatively informal and strongly implies deliberate underpayment or unfair dealing. It is common in British and American English, but is especially associated with everyday commerce and workplace disputes.