plagiarize
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: //ˈpleɪdʒəraɪz//
KK: /ˈpleɪdʒəˌraɪz/
intransitive verb
Definition
To use someone else's ideas or words and present them as your own without giving credit.
Example
He was accused of trying to plagiarize his friend's essay.
Tense Forms
Past: plagiarized
Past Participle: plagiarized
Conversation
I can't believe some students actually plagiarize their essays.
It's crazy! I thought everyone knew it was wrong.
Right? It just doesn't make sense to me.
Exactly, doing your own work is so much more rewarding.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
copy
imitate
borrow
Antonyms
create
originate
invent
transitive verb
Definition
To take someone else's work, ideas, or expressions and present them as your own without giving proper credit.
Example
He was accused of plagiarizing his classmate's essay.
Tense Forms
Past: plagiarized
Past Participle: plagiarized
Conversation
Did you hear about that student who got in trouble for trying to plagiarize his essay?
Yeah, I can't believe he thought he could get away with it.
It's really important to write your own work and not just copy others.
Root Explanation
Plagiarize → It is formed from "plagiarius" (meaning kidnapper or plunderer) and the suffix "-ize" (meaning to make or to cause to be). The word "plagiarize" means to make someone else's work your own by taking it without permission, akin to stealing or kidnapping ideas.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'kidnapper' ('plagiarius') taking someone else's work and making it their own — that's why to 'plagiarize' means to take someone else's ideas.
Visually Confused Words
unplagiarized
pelagianize
pelagianizer