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

The film, which landed a length 20-minute ovation last night, follows three men in three different periods — 1932, 1937, and 2017 — connected by the last works of Spanish poet Federico García Lorca. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 22 May 2026

The bombings continued into the evening, including on a residential building in the capital, where a poet and her husband were among the dead. —Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026

Cuba Press, a news agency with six typewriters located in the house of the poet Raúl Rivero, managed to report on the national hangover, as did Habana Press, an agency directed by Joaquín Torres, who dictated his articles over the phone to the exiles running Cubanet and Radio Martí. —Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026

Calel is an artist and poet of Maya Kaqchikel heritage who is based in Chi Xot (San Juan Comalapa), Guatemala, where he was born in 1987. —Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 19 May 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