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

Lakeside Police Department Ten months after that investigation, and after Prince was fired, the Jefferson County District Attorney has charged Prince with felony theft, official misconduct and 51 counts of forgery, according to state court records. — Brian Maass, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Abagnale committed check fraud, theft, and forgery, and later became a fraud-prevention specialist. — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Originally, Johnson faced 18 counts of election forgery and one count of election perjury, and Andrews was charged with two counts of election perjury and 28 counts of election forgery. — Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026

Months later, Pietras was arrested by the Coventry Police Department and charged with 22 counts of selling a funeral service contract with intent to defraud, 11 counts of second-degree larceny by embezzlement and one count of second-degree forgery. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 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