poet laureate

American  

noun

plural

poets laureate

1. (in Great Britain) a poet appointed for life as an officer of the royal household, formerly expected to write poems in celebration of court and national events.

2. a poet recognized or acclaimed as the most eminent or representative of a country or locality.

3. (formerly) a poet whose efforts were officially recognized, as by a sovereign, university, etc.

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poet laureate British  

noun

1. the poet appointed as court poet of Britain who is given a post as an officer of the Royal Household. The first was Ben Jonson in 1616

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poet laureate Cultural  

1. The national poet in Britain. Historically, the poet laureate's duty has been to compose official poetry for the king's or queen's birthday and for great public occasions, such as victories in war, coronations, and births and weddings in the royal family. The poets laureate of Britain have included Geoffrey Chaucer, William Wordsworth, and Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

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Discover More

The largely ceremonial position of poet laureate was created in the United States in 1985.

Etymology

Origin of poet laureate

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

But he articulated things that hadn’t been part of the American grain, becoming his country’s poet laureate of nature and ethics and its hippie Founding Father.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Tennyson became the only poet laureate to be elevated to the House of Lords.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

The lyrics are the only giveaway that this is the work of a band in their late middle age - as Cocker, the poet laureate of suburban misfits, sings movingly about stagnation, divorce and mortality.

From BBC • Sep. 10, 2025

The U.S. poet laureate and native Californian’s seventh collection of poetry is rooted in the land, but gives voice to the transcendent.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 2, 2025

We named our new daughter Zindziswa, after the daughter of the poet laureate of the Xhosa people, Samuel Mqhayi, who had inspired me so many years before at Healdtown.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela