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

This seems to follow the plot of the original book, which spent two weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers list and won the 2023 International Thriller Writers award for best paperback original novel. —Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 2025

Based on a true story, the novel adheres remarkably to the facts. —The Know, Denver Post, 7 Dec. 2025

Adjective

This constellation—a left-wing artistic politics that retained ties with yesteryear’s bohemian lifestyles while linking up with pragmatic concerns articulable as coherent demands that could interest broader audiences—was pretty novel. —Diedrich Diederichsen, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025

Researchers identified it as a novel strain of the highly contagious birnavirus that had spread to farms throughout Ago Bay, wiping out most of a generation of new oysters. —Arkansas Online, 1 Dec. 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