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

• narrative
• novelette
• short story
• story
• tale
• yarn

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

The novella takes place over Christmas night, contained to the equivalent of a one-act play in the character Marie’s bleak apartment. —Diana Arterian june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025

It’s built backward, as is the Stephen King novella on which it’s based. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 16 June 2025

The fantastical film, a reunion for Gillan, hails from director Mike Flanagan and is based on the Stephen King novella of the same name. —Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 2025

Neon’s The Life Of Chuck, Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of the Stephen King novella, saw $2.14 million in a major week 2 expansion to 1,072 screens. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 15 June 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