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

• counterfeit
• fake
• hoax
• humbug
• phony
• phoney
• sham

Examples of forgery in a Sentence

that is a cheap forgery, not an authentic Ming Dynasty vase

Recent Examples on the Web

The charges were felony criminal impersonation, second-degree forgery and second degree larceny. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2025

Mangione has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on 11 counts, including one count of murder in the first degree and two counts of murder in the second degree, along with other weapon and forgery charges. —Kara Scannell, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025

The Swiss authorities had charged the pair with fraud, mismanagement, misappropriation of FIFA funds and forgery of a document in November 2021, six and a half years after beginning an investigation into them. —Dan Sheldon, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025

Easton was considered a suspect in an ongoing forgery-counterfeit investigation when Chesterton Police Officer Nolan Mancera stopped the vehicle with Illinois plates for a speeding violation in Chesterton on March 18, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Porter Superior Court. —Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 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