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

In adapting Denis Johnson’s 2011 novella, director Clint Bentley made the perfect choice in casting Edgerton as Robert Grainier, a solid working man in hardscrabble early 20th-century Idaho. —Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 11 Dec. 2025

In 1933 Colette immortalized La Chatte as Saha, the dainty Chartreux heroine of the novella La Chatte. —Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025

Unbeknownst to the filmmakers, Edgerton had tried to buy the rights years before, such was his love of the novella. —Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 8 Dec. 2025

This December also marks the release of An Archive of Romance, a novella set in the world of A Study in Drowning. —Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 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