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

He was charged with forgery, a felony in Pennsylvania. —Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025

He was first charged in Blair County, Pennsylvania, with firearms and forgery offenses, including carrying a gun without a license and presenting false identification. —Cameron Schoppa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025

On cross-examination, Burns conceded the photographs had nothing to do with the charges underpinning Mangione's arrest for forgery based on his use of a fake ID. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2025

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

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