poet laureate
noun
plural poets laureate or poet laureates
1
: a poet honored for achievement
2
a
: a poet appointed for life by an English sovereign as a member of the royal household and formerly expected to compose poems for court and national occasions
b
: a poet appointed annually by the U.S. Library of Congress as a consultant and typically involved in the promotion of poetry
3
: one regarded by a country or region as its most eminent or representative poet
Examples of poet laureate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Later that year, he was named Illinois’ first honorary poet laureate.
—
Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
Marilyn McPhie will talk about Ina Coolbrith, the first California poet laureate.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
The famous Romantic, whom the king had recently appointed Britain’s poet laureate, wrote an essay about the expedition.
—Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
Sze, 75, began his first term as poet laureate last fall, during a time of upheaval at the library.
—ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
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Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
Marilyn McPhie will talk about Ina Coolbrith, the first California poet laureate.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
The famous Romantic, whom the king had recently appointed Britain’s poet laureate, wrote an essay about the expedition.
—Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
Sze, 75, began his first term as poet laureate last fall, during a time of upheaval at the library.
—ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poet laureate
Video
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'Poets laureate'? 'Court-martials'? The curious history of postpositive adjectives in English.
Cite this Entry
“Poet laureate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poet%20laureate. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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