novelty
noun
nov·el·ty
ˈnä-vəl-tē 
plural novelties
1
: something new or unusual
the novelty of a self-driving car
2
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.
Examples of novelty in a Sentence
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
Given the stakes, the level of scrutiny, the novelty of the charges, and the setbacks that the other cases have experienced in higher courts, Merchan and Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan D.A., would be well advised to tread carefully.
—
Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2024
In context, many operators offered incentives early in what could also be described as a novelty, or honeymoon, period.
—Alan Wooten | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 Aug. 2024
The novelty desk clock is not a new genre for Tiffany.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2024
The novelty of the low-cost airline has always been its unreserved seating.
—Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for novelty 
Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2024
In context, many operators offered incentives early in what could also be described as a novelty, or honeymoon, period.
—Alan Wooten | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 Aug. 2024
The novelty desk clock is not a new genre for Tiffany.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2024
The novelty of the low-cost airline has always been its unreserved seating.
—Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for novelty
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'novelty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near novelty
Cite this Entry
“Novelty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/novelty. Accessed 8 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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