What does poet mean?
A poet is a person who writes poetry, a literary form distinguished by expressive language, rhythm, imagery, and attention to the sounds and meanings of words. The word can also be used figuratively for someone whose writing or perception is especially vivid, intuitive, or emotionally responsive. In British and American English, poet is the standard term for a writer of verse. Its historical associations are broad: it comes from a Greek and Roman vocabulary of makers and creators, linking the writer of verse with the wider idea of artistic making. The word is particularly useful because it distinguishes a person from poetry itself, the body of literary work, and it can suggest both technical skill and a distinctive sensitivity to language.
nounA person who writes poetry. The term can also refer more broadly to a writer whose work is especially expressive, rhythmic, or concerned with language and emotion.
- A person who writes poetry.
- A person regarded as especially creative, expressive, or sensitive in their use of language.
"She became widely known as a poet whose work explored identity and belonging."
"The young poet won the country's most prestigious literary prize."
"His letters reveal the instincts of a poet more than those of a conventional historian."
The plural is poets, pronounced with an additional /s/ sound.
"The festival brings together poets from across the country."
The word poet comes from a Greek word meaning “maker,” so a poet is, at root, someone who makes language into art.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does poet come from?
The English word poet entered through Old French poet, which was borrowed from Latin poeta. Latin poeta came from Greek poietēs, meaning “maker” or “author,” related to poiein, “to make” or “to create.” English later developed several related forms, including poetry and poetic, while words such as poetics and poesy preserve connections with the same Greek and Latin literary tradition.
Related word forms
How poet is actually used
In ordinary use, poet most commonly means a writer of poetry. In broader figurative contexts, it can praise someone who expresses ideas with exceptional vividness or emotional force; this use is often slightly poetic or formal.