poetic license

noun

1. license or liberty taken by a poet, prose writer, or other artist in deviating from rule, conventional form, logic, or fact, in order to produce a desired effect.

Word History and Origins

Origin of poetic license¹

First recorded in 1780–90

Idioms and Phrases

Also, artistic license . The liberty taken by a writer or artist in deviating from conventional form or fact to achieve an effect. For example, I've never seen grass or a tree of that color; but that's artistic license . [Late 1700s]

Example Sentences

Every designer deserves a degree of poetic license, leeway to shock and provoke.

From The Daily Beast

I have taken very little "poetic license" with their traditions; none, whatever, with their customs and superstitions.

From Project Gutenberg

Poetry uses great freedom, called poetic license, in the order of words and construction of sentences.

From Project Gutenberg

The numbers given here are an instance of the poetic license.

From Project Gutenberg

While they may have employed a poetic license in their construction, the facts themselves were not lost out of sight.

From Project Gutenberg

Of course, he hadnt really any right to act proprietary; it was taking a certain poetic license with the situation.

From Project Gutenberg