plagiarism

[pley-juh-riz-uhm, -jee-uh-riz-]

noun

1. an act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author without authorization and the representation of that author's work as one's own, as by not crediting the original author.

   It is said that he plagiarized Thoreau's plagiarism of a line written by Montaigne.

   Synonyms: cribbing, borrowing, theft, piracy, infringement, appropriation

2. a piece of writing or other work reflecting such unauthorized use or imitation.

   “These two manuscripts are clearly plagiarisms,” the editor said, tossing them angrily on the floor.

plagiarism

/ ˈpleɪdʒəˌrɪzəm /

noun

1. the act of plagiarizing

2. something plagiarized

plagiarism

1. Literary theft. Plagiarism occurs when a writer duplicates another writer's language or ideas and then calls the work his or her own. Copyright laws protect writers' words as their legal property. To avoid the charge of plagiarism, writers take care to credit those from whom they borrow and quote.

Similar theft in music or other arts is also called plagiarism.

Other Word Forms

• plagiarist noun
• plagiaristic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of plagiarism¹

First recorded in 1615–25; plagiar(y) + -ism

Example Sentences

Still, even in a movie where people are always skulking around rifling through each other’s things, his claim that he chose a drunken late night to confront Maggie about plagiarism sounds inconceivable.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

However, teachers also reported concerns that AI could negatively affect pupils' skills while some were worried about plagiarism and inappropriate use of the technology.

Read more on BBC

Noem was accompanied by right-wing YouTube star Benny Johnson, one of the biggest provocateurs promoting the conservative media doom loop, who was first made infamous after being fired from BuzzFeed News for plagiarism.

Read more on Salon

But they feared increased plagiarism on the part of students and diminished student creativity.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He asked about his time as a student at Princeton University and how he was accused of plagiarism and suspended as a result, as well as speeding violations and burglary allegations.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• falsification www.thesaurus.com
• infringement 
• piracy