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

One of the purest expressions of the Baudelairean tendency emerged in the 1950s and ‘60s in the magazine ARTnews, which hired a gaggle of poets from what would become known as the New York School to review the modern art scene. —Literary Hub, 22 Dec. 2025

Patron poet of people who never quite fit in and don’t much care to? —Alex Abramovich, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025

Drew Rollins is a writer, poet, and translator who grew up in Maryland and Bulgaria. —Drew Rollins, The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2025

His father, Calvin, was a Chicago firefighter, while his mother, Elaine, was a poet, playwright, and producer with Emmy Awards to her name. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 18 Dec. 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