poet

noun

po·​et ˈpō-ət How to pronounce poet (audio)
-it
also ˈpȯ(-)it
Synonyms of poetnext
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

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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.
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
April may be the cruelest month for poets, but September is crueler for stock traders. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 The comedy star’s presence will surely be noticed by comedian Daniel Alvarez, who’s scheduled to perform Tuesday, alongside acts including singers (one is a singing poet), a magician, an aerialist duo, and a contortionist. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Aug. 2026 Fiction writers and poets, from Henry James to Walt Whitman, have revised and reissued early works. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 He is often understood, rightly and wrongly, as a kind of unfiltered confessional poet. — Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for poet

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of poet was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing poet

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poesy
poet
poet's narcissus
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Cite this Entry

“Poet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poet. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

poet

noun
po·​et ˈpō-ət How to pronounce poet (audio)
-it
: a person who writes poetry

More from Merriam-Webster on poet

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about poet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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