A shorter way to do something or to go somewhere.
Shortcuts can be helpful, but sometimes they can be dangerous or not as good as the regular way.
Examples:
She takes a shortcut through the park to get home faster.
I know a shortcut to solve this problem.
He found a shortcut to the store.
The shortcut through the woods is spooky at night.
Taking shortcuts in your work might not be a good idea.
The shortcut to the treasure was hidden in the old map.