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

Esposito was taken into custody and charged with forgery of a trademark or label, criminal impersonation and criminal attempt to commit first-degree larceny. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026

The dispute began after Indiana’s death in 2018 at 89 and centered around accusations of elder abuse, forgery, and copyright infringement. —Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026

The attorney general's office said charges of forgery, unsworn falsification, public records tampering and violations of state elections and voter registration laws remain pending against six canvassers. —ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026

Florentino Antonio Diaz is facing 29 charges — including grand theft, scheme to defraud and forgery — in connection with a series of unauthorized wire transfers from the Wynwood BID general fund to his personal bank account, Rundle said. —Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 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