plagiarism

[ pley-juh-riz-uh m, -jee-uh-riz- ]
/ ˈpleɪ dʒəˌrɪz əm, -dʒi əˌrɪz- /

noun

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.
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.

Origin of plagiarism

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

OTHER WORDS FROM plagiarism

pla·gia·rist, noun pla·gia·ris·tic, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for plagiarist

British Dictionary definitions for plagiarist

plagiarism
/ (ˈpleɪdʒəˌrɪzəm) /

noun

the act of plagiarizing
something plagiarized

Derived forms of plagiarism

plagiarist, noun plagiaristic, adjective

Cultural definitions for plagiarist

plagiarism

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.

notes for plagiarism

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