poet
POH-iht
Poet (noun) means a person who writes poems. Example: “The poet read her latest verses aloud to a quiet room at the library.”
noun
1
A person who writes poems.
"The poet read her latest verses aloud to a quiet room at the library."
"As a young poet, he filled notebooks with lines about the sea."
"She has been a published poet for over twenty years."
2
Someone with an unusually creative or romantic way of seeing the world.
"My sister is a poet in the way she describes ordinary sunsets."
"You would have to be a bit of a poet to call that muddy field beautiful."
"He's a poet at heart, always noticing the beauty in small things."
How to use poet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who writes poetry, or, more broadly, someone with a deeply creative or imaginative outlook.
Common pairings
aspiring poet
poet laureate
a poet at heart
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Word forms
- Plural
- poets
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The _____ read her latest verses aloud to a quiet room at the library.
Etymology
From Greek poietes, "maker, creator," from poieo, "to make."
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “poet” mean?
The word “poet” means a person who writes poems. In plain terms, someone who writes poetry, or, more broadly, someone with a deeply creative or imaginative outlook.
How do you pronounce “poet”?
“Poet” is pronounced POH-iht (/ˈpoʊ.ət/ in IPA).
How do you use “poet” in a sentence?
Here is “poet” used in a sentence: “She has been a published poet for over twenty years.”
What part of speech is “poet”?
“Poet” is a noun.
Where does the word “poet” come from?
The word “poet” comes from Greek. From Greek poietes, "maker, creator," from poieo, "to make.".
Is “poet” a common word?
“Poet” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “poet” have?
“Poet” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who writes poems.
What is the difference between a 'poet' and a 'writer'?
A poet is a person who writes poems, a form built on rhythm, imagery, and often line breaks or rhyme. 'Writer' is the broader term covering anyone who writes, including novelists, journalists, and essayists. Every poet is a writer, but not every writer is a poet.
What is the difference between a 'poet' and a 'poet laureate'?
A poet is simply someone who writes poems. A poet laureate is a poet given an official honorary title, often by a country or institution, to represent poetry publicly for a set term. The laureate role is a formal appointment, not just a description of the work.
Can 'poet' describe someone who does not write poems?
Yes, in a figurative sense. 'Poet' can describe someone with an unusually creative or romantic way of seeing the world, as in calling a thoughtful cook or photographer 'a poet in their field.' Used this way it praises imagination rather than literally meaning they write verse.
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