plagiarize
PLAY-juh-ryz
/ˈpleɪdʒəraɪz/
To take the work or ideas of someone else and pass them off as one's own.
A serious ethical and academic violation involving the theft of intellectual property, whether intentional or accidental.
The story behind the word. The word 'plagiarize' has a surprisingly dramatic history. It comes from the Latin 'plagiarius', which literally meant 'kidnapper'. In the 1st century AD, the Roman poet Martial complained that another poet had 'kidnapped' his verses, using the word to describe literary theft. The metaphor stuck.
Word relationships
- steal: Steal is a general term for taking physical or intangible property, while plagiarize is specific to ideas and writing.
- copy: Copying can be done legally or with permission, whereas plagiarizing always implies dishonesty.
- attribute: Attribute means to give proper credit to the original creator of an idea or text.
- originate: Originate means to create something completely new and unique from one's own mind.
Commonly confused with
- paraphrase: Paraphrasing is rewriting an idea in your own words (which is legal if cited), while plagiarizing is stealing the idea or exact words.
Word family
- plagiarism (noun): The practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.
- plagiarist (noun): A person who plagiarizes.
Collocations
- plagiarize a paper
- accused of plagiarizing
- plagiarize content
- unintentionally plagiarize
Example sentences
- "If you plagiarize any part of your final essay, you will automatically fail the course." A university policy handbook warning students.
- "The famous author was accused of trying to plagiarize several paragraphs from an obscure academic journal." A news story about a literary scandal.
Memory hook
Think of a 'plague' of 'liars' who steal other people's writing. Kidnapping someone's words.
When not to use
Do not use when someone is legally licensing or properly citing another person's work.
Fun facts
- In ancient Rome, 'plagium' was the actual crime of kidnapping a free person to sell them into slavery.
Related words
Explore more words
plagiarism, piracy, citation, infringement, usurp, intellectual property
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