roman-fleuve

noun

ro·​man-fleuve rō-ˌmäⁿ-ˈflœv 

-ˈflərv,

-ˈfləv

plural romans-fleuves rō-ˌmäⁿ-ˈflœv 

-ˈflərv(z),

-ˈfləv(z)

: a novel in the form of a long usually easygoing chronicle of a social group (such as a family or a community)

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, river novel

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above