novel

/ˈnɑːvəl/

Say it: NOV-ul

1. noun A long fictional story, typically in prose, that presents a detailed narrative about characters and events.
She stayed up all night to finish reading the new mystery novel.
2. adjective New and original, not resembling something formerly known or used.
The team's novel approach to the problem impressed the board of directors.

📖 Seen in the wild

The scientist proposed a novel approach to solving the complex problem.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ novel in a sentence

The use of AI to generate architectural plans is still a novel concept.
His debut novel was an unexpected bestseller.
Researchers discovered a novel virus strain that requires further study.
I'm looking for a good historical novel set in ancient Rome.
Her paper presented a novel interpretation of the classic text.
The plot of the novel follows a young detective through the streets of 1940s Los Angeles.
What was once a novel solution has now become standard practice in the industry.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

new original unprecedented innovative fresh unusual groundbreaking unfamiliar

new · the most general term; 'novel' implies a more striking and original kind of newness.

original · emphasizes being the first of its kind; 'novel' focuses more on the quality of freshness.

unprecedented · stresses that something has never happened before, often for major events; 'novel' usually applies to ideas or methods.

innovative · suggests a new method or idea that actively brings about positive change.

Opposites: conventional, traditional, familiar, commonplace, standard

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'novel' traces back to the Latin 'novus', meaning 'new'. The adjective sense comes directly from this root. The noun sense took a scenic route through Italian, from 'novella', which meant 'a new story' and described the short, realistic tales that became popular during the Renaissance, a new form of literature at the time.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

a novel ideaa novel approachread a novelwrite a novela graphic novela novel solution

The adjective 'novel' implies a striking and original kind of newness, not just something that is recent. It carries a positive connotation of creativity and ingenuity. Because it's a strong word, reserve it for ideas, methods, or solutions that are genuinely fresh and different, not just for anything that is chronologically new.

Word family: novelist, novelty, novella

💬 Quick answers

What does 'novel' mean?

'Novel' can be a noun for a long fictional book, like 'Moby Dick'. It can also be an adjective meaning new, original, and unlike anything seen before, such as a 'novel idea'.

What's the difference between 'novel' and 'new'?

While both refer to something not old, 'new' is a general term. The adjective 'novel' is more specific, describing something not only new but also strikingly original, innovative, and previously unknown.

Is the word 'novel' formal?

As a noun for a book, it is neutral and used everywhere. As an adjective meaning 'new and original', it is slightly more formal and common in academic, scientific, and professional contexts.

Where does the word 'novel' come from?

It comes from the Latin word 'novus', meaning 'new'. The noun sense for a book came through the Italian word 'novella', which referred to a new kind of short story popular during the Renaissance.

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