What term describes a situation where the individual who wrote the manuscript is not listed as an author?

Ghost authorship refers to a scenario in which someone contributes significantly to a manuscript but is not credited as an author. This often occurs when authorship is improperly assigned or when contributors wish to remain anonymous for various reasons, including concerns about reputational risk or conflicts of interest. It raises ethical issues within academic publishing, as it can misrepresent the contributions made to a piece of research. Recognizing and addressing ghost authorship is essential for maintaining integrity and transparency in the research process.