plagiarism
Americannoun
-
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
-
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.
noun
-
the act of plagiarizing
-
something plagiarized
Discover More
Similar theft in music or other arts is also called plagiarism.
Other Word Forms
- plagiarist noun
- plagiaristic adjective
Etymology
Origin of plagiarism
First recorded in 1615–25; plagiar(y) + -ism
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When the public hears about scientific fraud, the focus often falls on isolated cases involving falsified data, plagiarism or retracted studies.
From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026
And after resolving a plagiarism dispute that delayed its release last year, the French-language thriller “The Hunt,” about a deadly encounter between two groups of hunters, is finally landing on March 4.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026
Alessandro Gallenzi made the shock plagiarism discovery, which he described as "wholesale", while he was editing a new collection of Thomas's poetry.
From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026
His publisher tells him that another author is suing him for plagiarism.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025
Subjunctives also turn up with certain prepositions and subordinators that specify hypothetical situations: Bridget was racked with anxiety lest her plagiarism become known.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
