Shortchange

Alternative forms

• short change
• short-change

Full definition of shortchange

Verb

1. To defraud someone by giving them less change than they should be given after a transaction.I gave him $10 for a $5 item and he only gave me $1 back. I got shortchanged!
2. (by extension) To deprive someone of something for which they paid.The elective class was easy, but in the end I was shortchanging myself.
3. To make disadvantaged by design.