forgery

noun

forg·​ery ˈfȯr-jə-rē 

ˈfȯrj-rē

plural forgeries

1

archaic : invention

2

: something forged

3

: an act of forging

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

Synonyms

• hoax
• counterfeit

Examples of forgery in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Milan Milos Djuric, 24, was charged with one count of corrupt business influence, a Level 5 felony; eight counts of Level 6 felony fraud; three counts of Level 6 felony forgery, and one count of Level 6 felony auto theft. —Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025

Court records viewed by the Dispatch say Sierra was arrested on May 19 and charged with felony forgery. —Shahid Meighan, USA Today, 21 May 2025

Wraps were—in marketing, if not always in reality—lower-calorie and lower-carb than normal sandwiches, all that pillowy, delicious bread having been replaced with a utilitarian tortilla forgery that tasted and looked virtuous, especially when it was flecked with spinach or tomato. —Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 25 June 2025

Toni Heath Johnson has various felony convictions dating back to the 1980s, including forgery, credit card theft and bigamy. —Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 23 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

forge entry 2 + -ery

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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