What does "plagiarism" mean?

"Plagiarism" specifically refers to the act of using someone else's work or ideas without giving proper credit, making it appear as though those ideas or that work is your own. This can include not only copying text verbatim but also paraphrasing someone else's ideas without acknowledgment.

This understanding is essential in academic and professional settings, where originality and proper citation are critical to maintaining integrity and credibility. The other options such as creating original work, editing, or summarizing someone else’s ideas do not capture the essence of plagiarism, which fundamentally involves a breach of ethical standards regarding intellectual property.