poetic license

American  

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.

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poetic license Idioms  

1. 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]

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Etymology

Origin of poetic license

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

Rachel Syme’s foreword to the musical book says that this version of “Ironic” turns it into “an inside joke about poetic license and grammatical errors.”

From Salon • Nov. 29, 2024

“Bedewed it with his tears and bid to it an everlasting adieu” is the stuff of poetic license and bad poetry.

From Slate • Nov. 28, 2024

“It’s a little bit of poetic license there,” Vicki said.

From Washington Post • Mar. 19, 2023

We use our poetic license like we all do when we’re writing a historical character.

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2021

Mr. Underwood said, “Cows don’t go to heaven,” to which Mrs. E.C.B. replied, “This one did,” and explained poetic license.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee