What is the term for copying or slightly altering someone else's work and claiming it as your own?

The term for copying or slightly altering someone else's work and claiming it as your own is known as plagiarizing. This practice involves taking someone else's ideas, text, images, or creative work without proper attribution or permission, presenting them as if they were original. It is a serious ethical violation in academic and creative fields because it undermines the integrity of the work and disrespects the original creator’s rights.

The other terms, while related to the general concept of imitating or using someone else's work, do not convey the same level of wrongdoing as plagiarizing. For instance, replicating often refers to creating a copy or reproduction of something, usually with an acknowledgment of the original source. Borrowing implies taking something for a time with the intention of returning it, which generally conveys permission or shared understanding. Mimicking typically relates to imitating style or technique but does not suggest the deception involved in claiming another’s work as one’s own. This distinction emphasizes the severity and implications of plagiarism in various contexts.