Real Dictionary

poet laureate
countable noun: The poet laureate is the official poet of a country. In Britain the poet laureate is paid by the government for the rest of their life. In the United States they are paid for a fixed period.

poet laureate in American English
the court poet of England, appointed for life by the monarch, traditionally to write poems celebrating official occasions, national events, etc.
noun: a poet appointed as an officer of the royal household, formerly expected to write poems in celebration of court and national events

poet laureate in British English
noun: the poet appointed as court poet of Britain who is given a post as an officer of the Royal Household. The first was Ben Jonson in 1616