novella

noun

no·​vel·​la nō-ˈve-lə 

plural novellas or novelle nō-ˈve-lē 

1

plural novelle : a story with a compact and pointed plot

2

plural novellas : a work of fiction intermediate in length and complexity between a short story and a novel

Synonyms

• tale
• story

Examples of novella in a Sentence

pressed for time, many English teachers have their students read the one novella among the novelist's works

Recent Examples on the Web

These are the stories that make up Room on the Sea, a trio of novellas from the Call Me by Your Name author, André Aciman. —airmail.news, 5 July 2025

Originally assigned to George Lucas and working from a script by John Milius, the project was loosely based on Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness. —Armond White, National Review, 4 July 2025

Her idea of a break was to pen a novella between projects, as a relief from other work. —Samantha Dunn, Oc Register, 3 July 2025

Next up for Hamill is the role of a hard-drinking grandfather in The Life of Chuck, director Mike Flanagan's adaptation of the Stephen King novella of the same name. —EW.com, 4 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, "piece of news, announcement, story, narrative," noun derivative from feminine of novello "new," going back to Latin novellus "young, tender (of plants or animals)," from novus "new" + -ellus, diminutive suffix — more at new entry 1

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for novella

• brucella
• candela
• capella
• chlorella
• flagella
• glabella
• lamella
• marcella
• mustela
• patella
• predella
• prunella

Kids Definition

novella

noun

no·​vel·​la nō-ˈvel-ə 

: a work of fiction falling between a short story and a novel in length and complexity