10 Words For Someone Who Takes Credit For Your Work

People who take credit for the work of others are both deceivers and highly inconsiderate. While we may have met someone like this before, we may not have known an appropriate term to call them. Therefore, this article will go through acceptable terms to call someone consistent with this.

What Can I Call Someone Who Takes Credit For Other’s Work?

Generally, someone who takes credit for others’ work, isn’t considered to have the best values in life. Therefore, it’s important we know the appropriate terms and when to use them. Here are the particular terms we will be going over:

• A Plagiarist
• A Pirate
• A Forger
• A Fraud
• A Charlatan
• A Counterfeiter
• An Appropriator
• A Purloiner
• A Falsifier
• An Infringer

The preferred version we will look at is “a plagiarist”. This is because when we call someone “a plagiarist”, we are accurately explaining that they are someone who has taken credit for someone else’s work or does so on a frequent basis.

A Plagiarist

Cambridge Dictionary defines “a plagiarist” as a person who uses another person’s ideas or work and pretends that it is their own. We often consider someone who is “a plagiarist” to be a seemingly negative individual and a person who sees fit to consistently lie.

“A plagiarist” can also be someone who illicitly reproduces artwork, music, and other forms of works originally crafted by others. To be “a plagiarist” is considered a moral offence, as this is someone who is very comfortable with mistreating others and misrepresenting themselves.

Here are a few examples of how we can use this term:

• She is a known plagiarist and has already gotten in trouble on multiple occasions this year. If she gets caught again, she’s expelled!
• He was being accused of being a plagiarist, which angered him to the core. He wrote the paper in his own words, doing the proper associated research.
• The teacher called out the entire group for being plagiarists, as they copied their song lyrics from two famous artists’ works.

A Pirate

Cambridge Dictionary defines “a pirate” as a person or organization that makes illegal copies of the software, films, recordings, etc., to sell them at much cheaper prices. This term is often thought to originate from “a pirate”, who sails ships and conquers lands.

While “a pirate” isn’t commonly considered to be a term for someone who takes credit for someone else’s work, it most certainly is. “A pirate” steal’s the work of others in order to make a profit for themselves.

Some examples of how this term can be utilized are:

• Copyright laws continuously introduce tougher sentences for those software pirates in existence.
• He was a known pirate, constantly selling illegal copies of movies in order to make a major profit.
• She helped her boyfriend to pirate movies and music illegally and was charged because of it!

A Forger

Another excellent alternative we can choose to use is “a forger”. Cambridge Dictionary defines “a forger” as someone who makes forged copies. “A forger” is someone who is known as being capable of creating imitation copies of important documents, pieces of work, etc.

This is considered illegal and is made worse by the fact the “a forger” will use their skills to create a profit. This is inherently selfish, as they generally do not care who they affect in the process.

At the same time, even a teenager who may falsely write their parent’s signature on a detention slip would be considered “a forger”.

To additionally help to clarify this particular term, here are a few examples:

• She was a known forger in high school. If you could find a copy of your parents’ signature, she could write you a note to get out of school in minutes.
• That doctor went to jail for being a forger. He was making thousands of dollars a year by writing folks false mental health claims to seek benefits.
• You can’t copy her signature and submit that check for money! That would make you a forger and you could get in an abundance of trouble!

A Fraud

Cambridge Dictionary defines “a fraud” as someone who deceives people by saying that they are someone or something that they are not. This is typically accomplished by claiming or being accredited with certain accomplishments or qualities.

The term “a fraud” carries a very negative connotation, as this is not someone considered to be worthy of trust. This is very commonly someone who swindles folks out of their money through deception or falsely promising services, etc.

Here are a few examples of this particular term being used in a sentence:

• She claimed to be a famous psychic, able to predict the future and assist you in times of mental crisis. She was later found out to be a complete fraud.
• He was a known convicted fraud for his time pretending to be a travelling illusionist.
• She was a fraud and was consistently relied on people believing in her trickery and lies for financial compensation.

A Charlatan

Another superb alternative we can use is “a charlatan”. Cambridge Dictionary defines “a charlatan” as a person who pretends to have skills or knowledge that they do not have, especially in the field of medicine. This is someone considered to be a con artist, fooling folks out of their finances.

“A charlatan” acts in certain ways in order to functionally deceive other people. This is, more often than not, the way that this individual will make their livelihood. This is someone who often poses as another individual, who has done the appropriate years of work.

For further explanation, here are some examples to go over:

• That doctor was a known charlatan and he ended up being arrested for operating a practice illegally.
• She attempted to take on the life of a charlatan, deceiving folks into believing she was a practicing lawyer.
• He was a self-professed con-artist and working charlatan. He enjoyed the thrill of tricking folks out of their hard-earned money.

A Counterfeiter

Calling someone “a counterfeiter” is another excellent way to express that they take credit for others’ work. Cambridge Dictionary defines “a counterfeiter” as a person who makes a copy that looks like the original of something, usually for dishonest or illegal purposes.

“A counterfeiter” is someone who is known to make copies of something in such a professional manner, that they appear to be the original. We often hear stories of “a counterfeiter” running a fake money printing operation.

Some examples highlighting the use of this term are:

• He was a known counterfeiter, being able to print a copy of any official document you may need.
• Imitation designer bags that are made perfectly are a favourite product of counterfeiters.
• The government hopes that the new ID cards will make it more difficult for known counterfeiters to reproduce.

An Appropriator

Another phenomenal term we can choose to use to call someone who takes credit for the work of others is “an appropriator”. Cambridge Dictionary defines “appropriate” as the action of taking something for your personal use, usually without any permission given.

We often hear the term “appropriation” used in terms of cultural issues. This often occurs when the inappropriate or unacknowledged use of an element or elements of another culture takes place. Therefore, “an appropriator” is someone who commits these thoughtless acts.

To showcase how we can use these terms, here are some examples:

• She began to wear her hair as if she was a black woman, whilst being white and unacknowledging of where the style came from. This made her an appropriator and began causing issues in her social circle.
• He lost his job when the company found out he was an appropriator, consistently taking credit for the work and ideas of others.
• My professor accused me of being an appropriator, merely because I attempted to claim a quote as my own in a report!

A Purloiner

“A purloiner” is another excellent term we can use to describe an individual who takes credit for others’ work. Cambridge Dictionary defines “purloin” as stealing something. Therefore, “a purloiner” is someone who steals from other people, often in terms of intellectual property.

Whenever we call someone “a purloiner” we are expressing our belief that they are a thief. “A purloiner” is often someone who we consider highly untrustworthy and very dishonest.

Here are a few more examples to highlight this particular term:

• I had to out myself as a purloiner at work. I began to feel tremendously guilty for stealing a multitude of supplies.
• He is a known purloiner, often stealing his classmate’s reports before they can submit them – taking credit as if he wrote them.
• She may only be twelve, but don’t let that fool you. My little sister is a complete purloiner – she can’t help herself!

A Falsifier

“A falsifier” is another applicable alternative that we can choose to use. Cambridge Dictionary defines “falsify” as to change something, such as a document, in order to deceive people. Therefore, “a falsifier” is someone who is capable of doing just that.

When we claim that someone is “a falsifier” we are expressing that they are someone who often takes credit for the work of others. Therefore, this is someone who entirely misrepresents themselves, while consistently producing untruthful work.

To show how we can appropriately use this term, we’ll look at these examples:

• His professor accused him of being a falsifier, claiming that he’s taken credit for a report that was previously handed in by a student last semester.
• The dean was charged for being a falsifier and creating fake certificates for folks pretending to be graduates.
• She was a known falsifier, creating fake sick notes for students, for a profit.

An Infringer

The last alternative we will look at is “an infringer”. Cambridge Dictionary defines “infringe” as to act in a way that is against a law or that limits someone’s rights or freedoms. Therefore, “an infringer” is someone who violates someone else’s rights.

Often, someone who is considered as “an infringer” is the type of person who is distributing copyrighted material without any form of prior authorization. Because of this, they are also considered someone who takes credit for the work of others.

Finally, we will go over our last few examples for this term:

• Infringers often dislike being made to fix the damage they have caused, however, they shouldn’t have broken the rules in the first place.
• The alleged infringer wishes to confirm that the patent hadn’t been infringed and therefore, the charges against him are unjust and invalid.
• There is no evidence supporting that she is an infringer, therefore, I do not believe a trial hearing is entirely necessary.