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

Trisha Chatterjee, 27, of Dayton, is charged with three counts each of forgery and tampering with records, according to a copy of her indictment. —Jennifer Edwards Baker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Dec. 2025

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to murder charges at the state and federal level as well as forgery charges in Pennsylvania. —Ben Brachfeld, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025

Prosecutors argue the officers acted lawfully, given Mangione had already been arrested for forgery and gave a fake name. —Renee Anderson, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025

The man is accused of concealing a corpse, fraud against the state, impersonation, and forgery of a public document, the spokesperson said. —Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 25 Nov. 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