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

Reports of guns, faked voter registration documents, gift card payments for forgeries. — Philip Elliott, Time, 17 July 2026

Remsen was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for Gaston’s murder and another six years in connection with the forgery charges. — Doha Madani, NBC news, 16 July 2026

Detectives later ruled that the note and paperwork were likely forgeries. — Eleanor Jacobs, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026

When forgery is plausible, people who did say something reckless can deny authentic recordings as synthetic. — Henry Bair, STAT, 14 July 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