1. to give someone less money than they are owed as change
2. to treat someone unfairly by giving them less than they deserve

Examples

• The cashier shortchanged me by five dollars.
• I think the restaurant shortchanged us on the bill.
• Don’t let them shortchange you on your salary.
• The students felt shortchanged by the abbreviated course.
• She was shortchanged when they gave her fewer vacation days.
• The customer complained that he had been shortchanged at the store.