plagiarism
noun
pla·gia·rism ˈplā-jə-ˌri-zəm 
also -jē-ə-
1
: an act or instance of plagiarizing
2
: something plagiarized
plagiarist
ˈplā-jə-rist
noun also -jē-ə
plagiaristic
ˌplā-jə-ˈri-stik
adjective also -jē-ə-
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Common Misspellings
plagarism, plagerism, plagirism
Did you know?
The Kidnapping Roots of Plagiarize
If schools wish to impress upon their students how serious an offense plagiarism is, they might start with an explanation of the word’s history. Plagiarize (and plagiarism) comes from the Latin plagiarius “kidnapper.” This word, derived from the Latin plaga (“a net used by hunters to catch game”), extended its meaning in Latin to include a person who stole the words, rather than the children, of another. When plagiarius first entered English in the form plagiary, it kept its original reference to kidnapping, a sense that is now quite obsolete.
Example Sentences
The student has been accused of plagiarism.
Recent Examples on the Web Accused of plagiarism, Mr. Ouologuem stopped writing and returned to Mali. 
New York Times, 22 July 2022 In the meantime, AI assistants can assist copywriters by providing writing prompts, offering suggestions, identifying trends and checking for plagiarism. Shane Barker, Forbes, 24 June 2022 Another edition of Fareed Zakaria’s GPS, last mentioned by anyone ten years ago, when Zakaria was suspended for plagiarism? Kyle Smith, National Review, 15 Mar. 2022 Dan totally bombed on his part of the project — factual inaccuracies, outright plagiarism, way less output than required. Washington Post, 20 May 2021 His work suffers rejection, plagiarism, and mockery. Michael Dirda, The New York Review of Books, 28 May 2020 The voter guide responses marked the second time in recent weeks that questions of alleged plagiarism have surfaced in her campaign. Lea Skene, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2022 Titanic expert George Behe—author of Titanic: Psychic Forewarnings of a Tragedy, which covers dozens of strange premonitions, odd coincidences and outright hoaxes associated with the disaster—is skeptical of the plagiarism claim. Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2022 In response, Masihzadeh filed a plagiarism suit against Farhadi. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2022 See More
New York Times, 22 July 2022 In the meantime, AI assistants can assist copywriters by providing writing prompts, offering suggestions, identifying trends and checking for plagiarism. Shane Barker, Forbes, 24 June 2022 Another edition of Fareed Zakaria’s GPS, last mentioned by anyone ten years ago, when Zakaria was suspended for plagiarism? Kyle Smith, National Review, 15 Mar. 2022 Dan totally bombed on his part of the project — factual inaccuracies, outright plagiarism, way less output than required. Washington Post, 20 May 2021 His work suffers rejection, plagiarism, and mockery. Michael Dirda, The New York Review of Books, 28 May 2020 The voter guide responses marked the second time in recent weeks that questions of alleged plagiarism have surfaced in her campaign. Lea Skene, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2022 Titanic expert George Behe—author of Titanic: Psychic Forewarnings of a Tragedy, which covers dozens of strange premonitions, odd coincidences and outright hoaxes associated with the disaster—is skeptical of the plagiarism claim. Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2022 In response, Masihzadeh filed a plagiarism suit against Farhadi. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1621, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing plagiarism
Kids Definition
plagiarism
noun
pla·gia·rism ˈplā-jə-ˌri-zəm
: an act of copying the ideas or words of another person without giving credit to that person