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 of poet

• minstrel
• muse
• bard

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

Katherine Anne Porter City Lights, a bookstore and publishing house founded by the poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti in 1953, is closely associated with the Beat Generation of writers. — J. D. Biersdorfer, New York Times, 20 July 2026

There’s a long Greek tradition of setting modern Greek poetry to song, and the words my father sang came from the poet Manolis Anagnostakis. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026

The adaptation of Greek poet Homer’s sprawling work skewed male, as men made up 56 percent of the general audience and counted as more than three-quarters of ticket buyers among those above age 25. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 19 July 2026

Cyrano knows his value on the battlefield, his value as a poet, a thinker, a wit. — David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026

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