poetic license

noun

: license sense 4
… the start of Noah's Ark … states, "For dramatic effect, we have taken poetic license with some of the events of the mighty epic of Noah and the Flood."—Ken Tucker

Examples of poetic license in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
All the poetic license allowed me from those around me helps. — A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 2 May 2023 There’s a winged Statue of Liberty, but that’s just poetic license. — Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026 Naturally your recent letter ripped my heart from my wounded breast (poetic license). — Kurt Vonnegut, The New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2020 Still, our Judaism—if that’s the word for it—affirmed idiosyncrasy, worldliness, dignity, science, exegesis, law, property, gradualism, poetic license, peace, freedom, memory, and humor. — Jordan Castro, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024 See All Example Sentences for poetic license

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poetic license was in 1819

Rhymes for poetic license

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Browse Nearby Words

poetic justice
poetic license
poetics
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Poetic license.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poetic%20license. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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