Plagiarism can be understood and defined in various ways, depending on the context in which it is used. Here are several meanings and definitions of plagiarism:

1. Academic Definition: In academic settings, plagiarism refers to the act of using someone else’s work (ideas, words, or creations) without proper acknowledgment or citation. This includes copying text verbatim, paraphrasing without proper citation, and presenting someone else’s ideas or research as your own.
2. Legal Definition: Legally, plagiarism can be seen as a form of intellectual property theft. It involves using someone else’s work without permission and passing it off as your own, which can infringe on copyright laws.
3. Ethical Definition: From an ethical standpoint, plagiarism is considered dishonest and unethical behavior. It violates principles of academic integrity and fairness by not giving credit to those who deserve it for their original work or ideas.
4. Journalistic Definition: In journalism, plagiarism occurs when a writer or reporter presents another journalist’s work as their own without proper attribution. This can involve copying articles, interviews, or other content without permission or acknowledgment.
5. Creative Definition: Plagiarism in creative works involves using someone else’s artistic or creative expression without authorization. This can include copying characters, storylines, or other elements from existing works without permission or proper credit.
6. Self-plagiarism: This occurs when an individual submits their own previously published work or part of it as new without proper citation or acknowledgment. While it’s not always considered as severe as plagiarizing someone else’s work, it can still be a breach of academic or professional ethics.
7. Cultural Definition: Plagiarism can also occur at a cultural level when one culture appropriates or borrows heavily from another culture’s traditions, practices, or intellectual property without acknowledgment or respect for its origins.
8. Scientific Definition: In scientific research, plagiarism involves presenting someone else’s research ideas, methods, or results as one’s own without proper citation or acknowledgment. This undermines the integrity of the scientific community and can lead to mistrust and misinformation.

Overall, plagiarism encompasses a range of behaviors that involve using someone else’s work without proper attribution, whether in academic, creative, journalistic, or other contexts, and it is universally regarded as unethical and unacceptable.