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dime novel

noun

Definition of dime novel

: a usually paperback melodramatic novel especially : one popular in the U.S. from about the mid-19th century to the early 20th often featuring a Western theme

Examples of dime novel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Westerns have been selling variations on this sort of story since the silent days (and in dime novels before that). — Michael Phillips, Detroit Free Press, "Review: ‘The Rider’ is a Western like no other," 18 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dime novel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of dime novel

1864, in the meaning defined above

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The first known use of dime novel was in 1864

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More from Merriam-Webster on dime novel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dime novel

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