poetess

American

[poh-i-tis] / ˈpoʊ ɪ tɪs /

noun

a woman who writes poetry.

Gender

See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of poetess

First recorded in 1520–30; poet + -ess

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Tova, a simple name, a popular name, not quite suited to a young poetess.

From The New Yorker • Jan. 7, 2019

The protest came from a group of angry ladies led by Robin Morgan, 27, poetess and housewife.

From Time • Sep. 12, 2016

I have met a first rate American poetess.

From Salon • Dec. 21, 2014

As any random rerun of Seinfeld will remind you, Louis-Dreyfus is a veritable poetess of neurotic vanity.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2012

I like to think that at some of those performances, they heard the songs of Ts’ai Yen, a poetess born in A.D.

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023