poet

noun

po·​et ˈpō-ət 

-it,

 also  ˈpȯ(-)it

1

: one who writes poetry : a maker of verses

2

: one (such as a creative artist) of great imaginative and expressive capabilities and special sensitivity to the medium

Synonyms

• bard
• minstrel
• muse
• poetaster
• rhymester
• rimester
• versifier

Examples of poet in a Sentence

Emily Dickinson is famous as the poet who rarely left the house but often journeyed to the depths of the human heart.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hamilton was married to poet and playwright Frank Jenkins (Driving While Black in Beverly Hills) from 1964 until his death in 2014. —Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

My writing teacher, who is a poet from Argentina, and Elisa Medde wrote for my book. —Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 20 June 2025

Amelia Michels, a freelance marketing expert and poet, has spent the last two years of her life traveling the world, living in different places a few months at a time. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025

Let writers and poets help leaders communicate with metaphor and meaning. —Stephanie Dillon, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French poete, from Latin poeta, from Greek poiētēs maker, poet, from poiein to make; akin to Sanskrit cinoti he gathers, heaps up

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing poet

• poet laureate

Kids Definition

poet

noun

po·​et ˈpō-ət 

-it

: a person who writes poetry