self-plagiarism

American  

[self--pley-juh-riz-uhm, ‐jee-uh-riz‐] / ˈsɛlf ˈpleɪ dʒəˌrɪz əm, ‐dʒi əˌrɪz‐ /

noun

1. an act or instance of reusing ideas, passages, etc., from one’s previous work in another work and not referencing the original content; plagiarism of oneself.

   This article examines the legal and ethical aspects of self-plagiarism and fair use.

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Other Word Forms

• self-plagiarize verb (used without object)

Etymology

Origin of self-plagiarism

First recorded in 1875–80; self- ( def. ) + plagiarism ( def. )

Example Sentences

Saul Zaentz famously took you to court for self-plagiarism.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2025

Khosropanah has been accused of plagiarism and self-plagiarism.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 25, 2023

One professor, Brian Wansink, the director of the university’s Food and Brand Lab, is facing allegations of self-plagiarism and possible data misrepresentation in multiple papers and studies.

From Salon • Aug. 27, 2017

Fraud – including outright fabrication, plagiarism and self-plagiarism – accounts for the majority of retracted scientific articles.

From The Guardian • Feb. 1, 2017

This self-plagiarism sometimes worries us, as we are worried by a man whose conversation runs in ruts.

From Hours in a Library New Edition, with Additions. Vol. II (of 3) by Stephen, Leslie, Sir