poetic

American  

[poh-et-ik] / poʊˈɛt ɪk /

adjective

1. possessing the qualities or charm of poetry.

   poetic descriptions of nature.

2. of or relating to a poet or poets.

3. characteristic of or befitting a poet.

   poetic feeling; poetic insight.

4. endowed with the faculty or feeling of a poet.

   a poetic eulogist.

5. having or showing the sensibility of a poet.

   a poetic lover.

6. of or relating to poetry.

   poetic literature.

7. of the nature of or resembling poetry.

   a poetic composition; poetic drama; poetic imagination.

8. celebrated in poetry, as a place.

9. providing a subject for poetry.

10. of or relating to literature in verse form.

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noun

1. poetics.

poetic British  

/ pəʊˈɛtɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to poetry

2. characteristic of poetry, as in being elevated, sublime, etc

3. characteristic of a poet

4. recounted in verse

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Other Word Forms

• antipoetical adjective
• antipoetically adverb
• nonpoetic adjective
• poetically adverb
• prepoetic adjective
• prepoetical adjective
• pseudopoetic adjective
• pseudopoetical adjective
• quasi-poetic adjective
• quasi-poetical adjective
• quasi-poetically adverb
• unpoetic adjective
• unpoetical adjective
• unpoetically adverb

Etymology

Origin of poetic

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin poēticus, from Greek poiētikós; equivalent to poet + -ic

Explanation

Anything poetic either relates to the art of poetry or has the romantic images of poetry. A great speech can be poetic. An orange-red sunset at the beach can also be poetic. The word poetic comes from the Greek poietikos for "pertaining to poetry." A poetic drama is one written in verse. Anything romantic or lyrical is also poetic. A painter’s use of colors could be poetic. Poetic justice happens when you set a trap to catch a rabbit but get caught in it yourself. If you get carried away with a metaphor, you use poetic license. Don’t try to drive with it! Poetic language doesn’t get you out of any tickets.

Example Sentences

We ended up going “Purple” just because it just feels a little bit more intriguing, a little more vague, a little poetic and kind of let the audience feel out what this is.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

It’s frank, intimate, poetic in its elisions and profoundly haunting in its effect.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

On The WhatsApp Shakspeare, she warns listeners of a "wolf in sheep's clothes, but in this case denim", whose poetic voice notes win her heart, until she discovers she's "one of seven other leading ladies".

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

While I could wax poetic on the virtues of “Catwoman” for another 5,000 words, I won’t subject you to that here.

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2026

But it’s hard to concentrate in the lunchroom with the girls’ step team practicing in one corner, a rap group performing in the other, and Vondie and JB waxing poetic about love and basketball.

From "The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander