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

Von Ferdinand is charged with nearly three dozen counts, including forgery, identity theft and grand theft, while Alto faces eight counts, including perjury, forgery and identity theft. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025

He's charged in Pennsylvania with forgery, carrying a firearm without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of a crime and false identification to law enforcement. —Ahmad Hemingway, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025

Leviev was convicted of fraud, theft and forgery in December 2019, per the Times of Israel. —Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Polk is charged with one count each of first-degree murder and embezzlement from a vulnerable adult and two counts each of forgery of a document, identity theft and possession of a financial transaction device. —Christina Hall, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 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