poetess

noun

po·​et·​ess ˈpō-ə-təs How to pronounce poetess (audio)
ˈpō-i-
also ˈpȯ(-)i-
Synonyms of poetessnext
: a girl or woman who is a poet

Examples of poetess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
When the Dickinson fascicles were turned over to Mabel Loomis Todd, Susan’s crucial position as primary audience for Emily’s poetry became an inconvenient and irrelevant piece of information that did not jibe with the popular image of a nineteenth-century poetess. Via Chronicle Books, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025 This work honors the fearless and unapologetic spirit of the late June Jordan, educator, writer, activist, and poetess, whose words still challenge and inspire decades after they were first written and spoken. Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 9 Oct. 2025 Billed as a break-dance, hip-hop supernatural fantasy, the movie stars Jeroboam Bozeman as DeRay, a legendary dancer who falls through the sky to land outside the door of Naima (Mecca Verdell), a slam poetess who is the love of his life. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2024 To those who know, Patti Smith, pioneering punk poetess and rock star without peer or precedent, requires no introduction. Jem Aswad, Variety, 1 June 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poetess was in 1530

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Poetess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poetess. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

poetess

noun
po·​et·​ess ˈpō-ət-əs How to pronounce poetess (audio)
-it-
: a girl or woman who writes poetry

More from Merriam-Webster on poetess

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster