novelty

noun

nov·​el·​ty ˈnä-vəl-tē 

plural novelties

1

: something new or unusual

the novelty of a self-driving car

2

: the quality or state of being novel : newness

an uncritical acceptance of novelty as advance

—H. M. Jones

A toy's novelty soon wears off.

3

: a small manufactured article intended mainly for personal or household adornment

—usually used in plural

Disney novelties filled the shelves.

4

: something (such as a song or food item) that provides often fleeting amusement and is often based on a theme

—often used attributively

The movie included a few novelty songs.

Synonyms

• freshness
• newness
• originality

Example Sentences

the novelty of space exploration

Electric-powered cars are still novelties.

Eating shark meat is a novelty to many people.

Recent Examples on the Web

But once the novelty fades, some of the problems begin to assert themselves. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2023

In November 2015, with his solo career thriving following the White Stripes’ disbandment, White opened this eye-catching Cass Corridor retail store featuring records, apparel, novelty attractions and a performance space. —Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 31 Aug. 2023

Traditionally, it’s been a matter of familiarity (or novelty), quality, cost, brand and marketing, healthfulness, et cetera. —Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 29 Aug. 2023

Combining sporty with classic for a distinctly American look, Obama chose a strapless denim bustier dress (Oscar de la Renta, per W) and a black cropped cardigan, later accessorizing the outfit with novelty sunglasses. —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 29 Aug. 2023

As jurisdictions across the United States and in other countries steadily liberalize their laws around marijuana, the novelty of legal weed is wearing off for residents. —Mike Ives, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2023

The novelty of these sermons, the physical distance of the mosques, and the hierarchical structure of Shiite practice all helped mobilize residents in a way that the bonds of tribe, ideology, and Sunni practice could not. —Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2023

Racked with hokey voices, and novelty shop side-showery (plus a manic, crowded mix job), the cheese of Gospel Rap hasn’t aged well, though The Rap-Sures did indeed break new ground. —Jonathan Rowe, Spin, 24 Aug. 2023

But the Blower Junior is the most ambitious classic evocation so far, being both bigger—an 85 percent scale version of the original car—and also boasting what will be the novelty of street legality on both sides of the Atlantic. —Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 17 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English novelte, borrowed from Anglo-French novelté, from novel "new, novel entry 1" + -té -ty

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing novelty

• the novelty wears off

• the novelty wears off

Kids Definition

novelty

noun

nov·​el·​ty ˈnäv-əl-tē 

plural novelties

1

: something new or unusual

2

: the quality or state of being novel : newness

3

: a small article intended mainly as an unusual ornament or toy

—usually used in plural

Legal Definition

novelty

noun

nov·​el·​ty ˈnä-vəl-tē 

plural novelties

: the quality or state of being new : quality of being different from anything in prior existence

satisfied the requirement of novelty for a patent on the design