forgery

noun

forg·​ery ˈfȯr-jə-rē 

ˈfȯrj-rē

plural forgeries

1

: something forged

2

: an act of forging

especially : the crime of falsely and fraudulently making or altering a document (such as a check)

3

archaic : invention

Synonyms of forgery

• hoax
• counterfeit

Examples of forgery in a Sentence

that is a cheap forgery, not an authentic Ming Dynasty vase

Recent Examples on the Web

Pëllumb Petritaj, who oversees many of Shehu’s Albanian properties, was found guilty of using forgery to obtain land on behalf of the Shehu family. —Lindita Cela, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025

Owens was initially indicted on one count of fraudulent schemes and artifices, one count of forgery, four counts of perjury and one count of tampering with physical evidence earlier this year. —Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025

Notably, in 2011, McGuinness, once a top official with the Oakland County Democratic Party, was charged with forgery and perjury. —Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 5 Nov. 2025

At the time of his death, Hercules was facing forgery, theft, identity theft and making false information charges, according to Johnson County court documents. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

forge entry 2 + -ery

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

forgery

noun

forg·​ery ˈfōrj-(ə-)rē 

ˈfȯrj-

plural forgeries

1

: something (as a signature) that has been forged

2

: the crime of falsely making or changing a written paper or signing someone else's name

Legal Definition

forgery

noun

forg·​ery

plural forgeries

1

: the act of falsely making, altering, or imitating (as a document or signature) with intent to defraud

also : the crime of committing such an act

2

: something that is forged