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

Ultimately, the team’s work resulted in uncovering documentary evidence of more than 1,000 incidents of ghost voting, forgery and other forms of vote fraud. —Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026

Kim’s defense reportedly argued that the Lee Ufan work was actually a forgery worth less than 1 million won (about $680), an argument that, if accepted, would have undercut the prosecutor’s claims that the gift violated anti-graft laws governing high-value items. —Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 8 May 2026

The indictment, approved by a Bartow County grand jury, charges 33-year-old Jovante Peters with third-degree forgery and theft by taking. —Dan Raby, CBS News, 8 May 2026

The indictment accuses the leaders of the Fire Safe Council committed embezzlement, grand theft, money laundering, mortgage fraud, insurance fraud, perjury, forgery and related offenses. —Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 May 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