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

All the poets who appeared in the movie had been arranged for by my friend Emmett Grogan, author and founder of the improv troupe the Diggers. —Robbie Robertson, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025

How might this relate to the Romanian Jewish poet and Holocaust survivor? —Ross Benjamin, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025

His father, an Iranian-American poet and English professor at Queens College in New York City, has not responded to requests for comment. —Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025

Mayer, the iconic poet perhaps best known for her poem tracing midwinter day in a volume of that title, took a roll of film for each day of a month and maintained a daily diary. —Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 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