poetry

noun

po·​et·​ry ˈpō-ə-trē 

-i-trē,

 also  ˈpȯ(-)i-trē

1

a

: metrical writing : verse

b

: the productions of a poet : poems

2

: writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm

3

a

: something likened to poetry especially in beauty of expression

b

: poetic quality or aspect

the poetry of dance

Synonyms

• minstrelsy
• poesy
• song
• verse

Examples of poetry in a Sentence

I read the poem in a collection of modern poetry.

She's published two books of lyric poetry and a novel.

He found it easiest to express himself in the language of poetry.

Her dancing is pure poetry.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the poetry of Donne and his contemporaries, the speaker of the poem is almost always a man, with women as implicit audience and explicit objects of desire. —A.o. Scott, New York Times, 1 May 2025

Unique voices, unique perspectives Of course, there are countless autistic people who write poetry who aren’t famous and haven’t published books. —Bradley J. Irish, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2025

There is no emergency, nor any day, that does not require poetry. —Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025

Hernández’s cinema equals the verbal poetry of Williams and Inge, depicting spaces filled with longing in a world of chance encounters. —Armond White, National Review, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing poetry

• concrete poetry
• poetry in motion
• poetry reading

Kids Definition

poetry

noun

po·​et·​ry ˈpō-ə-trē 

-i-trē

1

a

: writing usually with a rhythm that repeats : verse

b

: the productions of a poet : poems

2

: writing chosen and arranged to create a certain emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm