poet

¹ American  

[poh-it] / ˈpoʊ ɪt /

noun

1. a person who composes poetry.

   Synonyms:

   bard, versifier

2. a person who has the gift of poetic thought, imagination, and creation, together with eloquence of expression.

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poet. ² American  

abbreviation

1. poetic.

2. poetical.

3. poetry.

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poet British  

/ ˈpəʊɪt /

noun

1. a person who writes poetry

2. a person with great imagination and creativity

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Other Word Forms

• nonpoet noun
• poetless adjective
• poetlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of poet

1250–1300; Middle English poete < Latin poēta < Greek poiētḗs poet, literally, maker, equivalent to poiē-, variant stem of poieîn to make + -tēs agent noun suffix

Example Sentences

Tzruya “Suki” Lahav, a violinist and poet who played with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in the mid 1970’s on some of the band’s most beloved LPs, has died.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

A poet before she was a songwriter, Parks has a knack for dropping you into stories that feel instantly familiar.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

As much as Ayewa is a poet and musician, she is also an educator and organizer.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Born in southern Iran's Shiraz, the hometown of the renowned Persian poet Hafez, Saidian emigrated to Israel in 1998 at the age of 18, followed by her parents a few years later.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

The work of Heinrich Heine, a German poet of Jewish origin, burned among the books.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Related Words

• artist
• author
• dramatist
• lyricist
• writer