What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is defined as the act of claiming someone else's ideas, work, or intellectual property as your own without proper acknowledgment. This can include copying text, ideas, images, or code from another source and presenting it as if it were created by you. The key aspect of plagiarism is the lack of attribution to the original creator, which is essential in respects to intellectual integrity and academic honesty.

When someone fails to give credit where it is due, they misrepresent their own efforts and contributions, which undermines the value of their work. This is particularly crucial in educational and professional contexts, where clarity about the origin of ideas and concepts is necessary to promote trust and credibility.

In contrast, using someone's work with permission, collaborating with others on projects, or incorrectly referencing sources, while potentially problematic in different contexts, do not fit the strict definition of plagiarism as they either involve honest acknowledgment of sources or collaborative effort where contributions are shared and recognized. The focus on ownership of ideas and the ethical implications make the definition of plagiarism specific to the misappropriation of intellectual property.