plagiarism
|pla-gi-ar-ism|
🇺🇸
/ˈpleɪdʒəˌrɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/ˈpleɪdʒərɪzəm/
stealing someone else's words or ideas
Etymology
'plagiarism' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'plagiarius' (from 'plagium'), where 'plagi-' related to 'kidnapping' or 'abduction' (the idea of taking someone else).
'plagium' (Latin, meaning 'kidnapping') gave rise to Neo-Latin 'plagiarius' ('kidnapper' or 'plunderer'), which passed into French as 'plagiat' and then into English as 'plagiarism' in the 17th century.
Initially it referred to literal kidnapping or seizing ('kidnapping' or 'plunder'), but over time the sense shifted to 'stealing another person's words or ideas', the current meaning.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act of using someone else's words, ideas, or work without proper acknowledgment and presenting them as one's own (often considered an academic or professional offense).
The university expelled the student for plagiarism after finding large sections of the thesis copied from published articles.
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Noun 2
an instance or example of copied material (e.g., a passage or work) that has been used without proper credit.
The article contained several plagiarisms, including entire paragraphs lifted from an earlier report.
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Last updated: 2025/12/02 20:50