verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/ʃɔɹtˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒ/
Received-Pronunciation:/ʃɔːtˈtʃeɪnd͡ʒ/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪndʒ
CMU ARPABET:SH AO2 R T CH EY1 N JH
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
I got shortchanged! I gave him $10 for a $5 item and he only gave me $1 back.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To deprive (someone or something) of something due; to treat unfairly; to cheat, deceive; to half-ass.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, transitive
Examples
The elective class was easy, but in the end I was shortchanging myself by taking it.
This article's sparse discussion of tax-policy implications shortchanges the subject.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From short + change.
Across languages
Translations
21 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
坑
(kēng)
— to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction
Finnish:
antaa väärin takaisin
— to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction
German:
zu wenig Wechselgeld geben
— to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction
Khmer:
អាប់លុយខ្វះ
(ʼapluy-khvah)
— to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction
Polish:
źle wydawać resztę
— to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction
Polish:
źle wydać resztę
— to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction
Russian:
обсчи́тывать
(obsčítyvatʹ)
— to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction
Russian:
обсчита́ть
(obsčitátʹ)
— to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction
Spanish:
sisar
— to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction
Vietnamese:
thối thiếu tiền
— to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction
Vietnamese:
ăn chặn tiền thối
— to defraud (someone) by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction
Chinese Mandarin:
欺騙 /欺骗
(qīpiàn)
— to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly
Chinese Mandarin:
虧待 /亏待
(kuīdài)
— to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly
Dutch:
bedriegen
— to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly
Finnish:
huijata
— to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly
Finnish:
pettää
— to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly
German:
betrügen
— to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly
Polish:
źle traktować
— to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly
Polish:
źle potraktować
— to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly
Russian:
обма́нывать
(obmányvatʹ)
— to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly
Russian:
обману́ть
(obmanútʹ)
— to deprive (someone) of something due; to treat unfairly
