Iambic tetrameter is a type of poetic meter that consists of four metra, each metron being of the form | x – u – |, consisting of a spondee and an iamb, or two iambs. In modern English poetry, it refers to a line consisting of four iambic feet. The word "tetrameter" simply means that there are four feet in the line; iambic tetrameter is a line comprising four iambs, defined by accent. The scheme is thus: | u / | u / | u / | u /, where "u" represents an unstressed syllable and "/" represents a stressed syllable.

Iambic tetrameter is commonly used in English poetry, particularly in ballads. Emily Dickinson is a famous poet who frequently used iambic tetrameter in her writing.