Definition

1. Noun:
   • The poet officially appointed to the royal household in Great Britain: A poet laureate is a poet appointed by the British monarch, traditionally expected to compose poems for significant national events.
   • A poet who is unofficially regarded as holding an honorary position in a particular group or region: The term is also used unofficially to denote a poet who is widely recognized as the most eminent or representative poet of a specific place, group, or field.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Official Appointment):
  • The poet laureate composed an ode for the coronation.
  • The position of poet laureate has existed in England since the 17th century.
• Noun (Unofficial Honor):
  • Many considered him the poet laureate of the jazz age.
  • She was celebrated as the poet laureate of the American South.

Advanced Usage

• "Poet laureate" as an unofficial title: The term is often applied metaphorically to acknowledge a writer's preeminent status within a specific context, not just poetry.
  • His poignant lyrics earned him the title of poet laureate among folk musicians.

Variants and Related Words

• Laureate (noun/adjective): A person who is honored for outstanding creative or intellectual achievement (e.g., a Nobel laureate). The adjective means "crowned with laurel as a mark of honor."
• Poetry (noun): Literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm.

Synonyms

• Official role: Court poet, appointed poet.
• Unofficial role: Leading poet, preeminent poet, representative bard.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Wear the laurels": To enjoy honor or glory, derived from the ancient practice of crowning victors with laurel wreaths. This connects to the honorific nature of the poet laureate title.
  • After winning the prize, she could rightly wear the laurels.

Noun

1. the poet officially appointed to the royal household in Great Britain
   • the poet laureate is expected to provide poems for great national occasions
2. a poet who is unofficially regarded as holding an honorary position in a particular group or region
   • she is the poet laureate of all lyricists
   • he is the poet laureate of Arkansas