Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's work, ideas, or intellectual property without proper attribution, presenting it as one's own. This can include copying text, images, or concepts from books, articles, or online sources without crediting the original creator. Plagiarism is considered unethical in academic, professional, and creative contexts and can lead to serious consequences, including loss of credibility and legal repercussions. To avoid plagiarism, it is essential to properly cite sources and give credit where it is due.