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

According to Fulton County jail records, New has been arrested multiple times on suspicion of crimes including identity theft, insurance fraud, financial transaction card fraud, forgery and simple assault. — Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026

McCauley pled guilty to 27 counts of larceny, three counts of forgery and one count of embezzlement. — Josh Eells, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2026

What the law can do Assuming there is no forgery of documents with an unwitting and unwilling spoiler candidate, there is little the law can do. — Drew Kurlowski, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026

She later was charged with additional counts of perjury and fraudulent schemes, two counts of taking the identity of another, two counts of forgery and one count of theft by extortion in the second man’s case. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026

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