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 Context Mangione, a 26-year-old accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, faces charges of gun possession and forgery. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024

In Pennsylvania, Mangione is charged with five counts: forgery, carrying a firearm without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing instruments of a crime and presenting false identification to law enforcement. —Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025

Rickey Juarez, 64, Chicago, was arrested Jan. 18 and accused of forgery after attempting to withdraw $1,000 Jan. 18 from an out-of-state resident’s account at Tech Credit Union, 11051 79th St., with a fake driver’s license, police said. —Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025

Noble also sued the property’s actual owner, claiming that the man’s deed was a forgery. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 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