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Shorthanded vs Shortchanged - What's the difference?

shorthanded | shortchanged |

As an adjective shorthanded

is lacking sufficient staff or people, as for normal or efficient operations.

As a verb shortchanged is

past tense of shortchange.

shorthanded

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Lacking sufficient staff or people, as for normal or efficient operations.
    • The tiny restaurant usually got by with three workers on that shift, but found itself shorthanded when the tour bus pulled in.
  • (ice hockey) Having fewer skaters on the ice during a play, as a result of a penalty.

    • See also

    * shorthand English words with consonant pseudo-digraphs

    shortchanged

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • (shortchange)

    • shortchange

    English

    Alternative forms

    * short change * short-change

    Verb

  • 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 !
  • (by extension) To deprive someone of something for which they paid.
    • The elective class was easy, but in the end I was shortchanging myself.
  • To make disadvantaged by design.