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

• 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

None of this instability emerges until late in the interrogation, which is also late in the novella. —Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025

Benjamin Voisin, who previously worked with Ozon on Summer of 85, stars as protagonist Meursault, the novella’s French expat protagonist who senselessly kills a local man on a beach. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025

Rob Reiner’s 1986 adaptation of Stephen King’s novella The Body was an instant coming-of-age classic, and continues to reach new generations each year. —Sezin Devi Koehler September 1, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025

Advertisement Joel Edgerton plays a logger in this thoughtful, philosophical drama based on the 2011 novella by Denis Johnson. —Ben Rosenstock, Time, 27 Aug. 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