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 of novella

• 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

Check out the Cannery Row Monument, then read John Steinbeck’s novella named after the waterfront street. — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 20 July 2026

Fans of the graphic novel series may notice the storyline is not exactly what’s in the 2015 novella — a choice that made sense for their screen incarnations, says Oseman. — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026

Published in 2005 as part of the Canongate Myths series, Margaret Atwood’s novella reimagines The Odyssey from the perspective of Penelope. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 July 2026

Advertisement Margaret Atwood also found a new framing for The Odyssey in her 2005 novella The Penelopiad. — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 17 July 2026

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