forgery

noun

forg·ery ˈfȯr-jə-rē

ˈfȯrj-rē

plural forgeries

Synonyms of forgery

: something forged

: an act of forging

especially : the crime of falsely and fraudulently making or altering a document (such as a check)

archaic : invention

Examples of forgery in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Brittany Hudson, 40, was convicted of 30 felony charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering and forgery of the signature of a federal judge. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Marseglia said that forgery of antiquities started in the Renaissance. — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 Darryl McCauley was sentenced to six years in prison on charges including larceny, forgery, and embezzlement; Erika McCauley was sentenced to two to three years in prison on charges including two counts of larceny. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026 Lozano was charged with felony theft by taking, 10 counts of second-degree forgery, 10 counts of identity fraud, and 10 counts of making false statements. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for forgery

Word History

Etymology

forge entry 2 + -ery

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler

The first known use of forgery was in 1583

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

forger

forgery

forgery bond

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Forgery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forgery. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

forgery

noun

forg·ery ˈfōrj-(ə-)rē

ˈfȯrj-

plural forgeries

: something (as a signature) that has been forged

: the crime of falsely making or changing a written paper or signing someone else's name

Legal Definition

forgery

noun

forg·ery

plural forgeries

: 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

: something that is forged

forgery

noun

Synonyms of forgery

Examples of forgery in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on forgery

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes