poetic license

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See synonyms for poetic license on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of poetic license

First recorded in 1780–90

Words nearby poetic license

poetic, poeticism, poeticize, poetic justice, poetic licence, poetic license, poetics, poetize, poet laureate, poetry, Poets are born, not made

How to use poetic license in a sentence

Every designer deserves a degree of poetic license, leeway to shock and provoke.
Paris Fall 2012 Fashion Week: Are Designers Bashing Women?|Robin Givhan|March 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I have taken very little "poetic license" with their traditions; none, whatever, with their customs and superstitions.
Legends of the Northwest|Hanford Lennox Gordon
Poetry uses great freedom, called poetic license, in the order of words and construction of sentences.
Elementary Guide to Literary Criticism|F. V. N. Painter
The numbers given here are an instance of the poetic license.
Dean of Lismore's Book|Various

While they may have employed a poetic license in their construction, the facts themselves were not lost out of sight.
America Discovered by the Welsh in 1170 A.D.|Benjamin Franklin Bowen
Of course, he hadnt really any right to act proprietary; it was taking a certain poetic license with the situation.
Nothing But the Truth|Frederic S. Isham

Other Idioms and Phrases with poetic license

poetic license

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]