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

Annie Guthrie is a writer and poet whose book The Good Dark was published in 2012. —Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026

For Brontë, the most accomplished poet in a family of formidable novelists, that love is above all a matter of words. —New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026

Her sister Annie Guthrie is a writer and poet. —Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 4 Feb. 2026

Diana Shi, co-recipient of two US National Endowment for the Arts Literature Translation Fellowships, has collaborated since 2006 with George O’Connell in translating many prominent western and Chinese-speaking poets. —Chen Yuhong, The Dial, 3 Feb. 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