novel

1 of 2

noun

nov·​el ˈnä-vəl 

1

: an invented prose narrative that is usually long and complex and deals especially with human experience through a usually connected sequence of events

The novel begins on the eve of its main character's graduation from college …

—Heller McAlpin

2

: the literary genre consisting of novels

… they proclaim the novel's death in part to whip up their resolve to effect its resurrection.

—Liesl Schillinger and Benjamin Moser

novelistic

ˌnä-və-ˈli-stik 

adjective

novelistically

ˌnä-və-ˈli-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

novel

2 of 2

adjective

nov·​el

1

a

: new and not resembling something formerly known or used

New regulations posed novel problems for builders.

… working to develop novel sensor technology capable of accurately recording the motion of the head during impact …

—Barry Wilner

b

: not previously identified

transmission of a novel coronavirus

a novel genetic mutation

Novel bacterial strains capable of neutralizing toxins produced by blue-green algae …

—Society for General Microbiology

2

: original or striking especially in conception or style

a novel scheme to collect money

novel solutions

… the researchers in this study took a novel approach.

—Scott Travers

Did you know?

If someone tells you that you've come up with a novel idea or a novel interpretation of something, it's probably a compliment: not everyone is capable of original thinking. But not everything new is terribly worthwhile; a novelty, for example, is often a cute (or maybe just silly) little object that you might put on a display shelf in your house. It may seem surprising that the familiar noun novel is related as well. In the 14th century, Italian writers began writing collections of short tales, each of which they called a novella because it represented a new literary form; from this word, three centuries later, the English coined the noun novel.

Synonyms of novel

Adjective

• new
• unfamiliar
• unprecedented
• strange
• original
• fresh

Choose the Right Synonym for novel

new, novel, original, fresh mean having recently come into existence or use.

new may apply to what is freshly made and unused

new brick

or has not been known before

new designs

or not experienced before.

starts the new job

novel applies to what is not only new but strange or unprecedented.

a novel approach to the problem

original applies to what is the first of its kind to exist.

a man without one original idea

fresh applies to what has not lost its qualities of newness such as liveliness, energy, brightness.

a fresh start

Examples of novel in a Sentence

Adjective

She has suggested a novel approach to the problem.

Handheld computers are novel devices.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Read from Sarah Hall’s new novel, Helm. —Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025

In addition to Back to the Future, other rereleases included screenings of all five Twilight movies timed to the 20th anniversary of Stephenie Meyer’s seminal first novel in the romance-vampire series. —Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2025

Adjective

My approach to novel making is not plot-driven. —Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025

In the wild, macaques can traverse miles of novel terrain each week and socialize through grooming, but in many laboratories they are isolated in barren cages no bigger than a washing machine. —Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

earlier nouell, nouelle "short prose narrative," borrowed from Italian novella — more at novella

Adjective

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & continental Old French, "new" — more at nouveau

First Known Use

Noun

1639, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing novel

• dime novel
• graphic novel
• saga novel

Rhymes for novel

• grovel

Kids Definition

novel

1 of 2 adjective

nov·​el ˈnäv-əl 

1

: new and different from what has been known before

2

: original or striking in design or appearance

a novel way to make money

novel

2 of 2 noun

: a long prose narrative that usually portrays imaginary characters and events