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

While Cahan’s novella canted toward Jake’s perspective, Rothstein’s play is an unabashedly feminist-forward retelling. —Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024

This veteran Texas troubadour is a masterful musical storyteller whose best songs are evocative enough to be novellas. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024

Following its success in 2013, the author pair went on to expand the series into five books and five related novellas, and have since published more than 30 books, including Love & Other Words and The Unhoneymooners. —Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024

Recommendations Kate recommends the novella Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler. —Wired Staff, WIRED, 15 Feb. 2024

Gia, the narrator of this début novella, is disenchanted with the modern world. —The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024

His vision was dark, and all-encompassing, like a novella’s winter fog. —Nadja Sayej, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024

The efforts have spawned two greenlit shows: House of the Dragon, which launches its second season this summer; and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, which starts production this year and is based on Martin’s Dunk and Egg novellas. —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Feb. 2024

But the short story or novella comes to life — or fails to — within a margin of error more familiar to neurosurgeons than to writers of fiction. —David Amsden, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023

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

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