novel
NO-vuhl
Novel (adj) means New and original, in an interesting or unusual way. Example: “Her novel approach to the problem impressed the whole team.”
adj
1
New and original, in an interesting or unusual way.
"Her novel approach to the problem impressed the whole team."
"It was a novel idea nobody had tried before."
"The chef served a novel combination of flavours that surprised every guest."
noun
1
A long work of fiction written in prose.
"He spent the summer writing his first novel."
"I'm reading a long novel set in a small fishing village."
"The library has a whole shelf of detective novels for teenagers."
How to use novel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs an adjective: new and interesting. As a noun: a book-length story.
Common pairings
a novel idea
write a novel
graphic novel
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Word forms
- Plural
- novels
- Comparative
- more novel
- Superlative
- most novel
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Her _____ approach to the problem impressed the whole team.
Etymology
From Old French novel, "new," ultimately from Latin novus. The adjective and the fiction genre share this same root — both are about something "new."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for novel
See all rhymes for novel →Frequently asked questions
What does “novel” mean?
The word “novel” means new and original, in an interesting or unusual way. In plain terms, as an adjective: new and interesting. As a noun: a book-length story.
How do you pronounce “novel”?
“Novel” is pronounced NO-vuhl (/ˈnavəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “novel” in a sentence?
Here is “novel” used in a sentence: “Her novel approach to the problem impressed the whole team.”
What part of speech is “novel”?
Depending on how it is used, “novel” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “novel” come from?
The word “novel” comes from Latin. From Old French novel, "new," ultimately from Latin novus. The adjective and the fiction genre share this same root — both are about something "new.".
Is “novel” a common word?
“Novel” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “novel” have?
“Novel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: new and original, in an interesting or unusual way.
What is the difference between the adjective novel and a novel?
As an adjective, novel means new and original, as in a novel approach. As a noun, a novel is a book-length work of fiction. They are spelled the same but unrelated in use, and word order usually makes the meaning clear, as in 'a novel idea' versus 'reading a novel'.
What is the difference between novel and new?
New simply means recent or not existing before. Novel means new and original in a way that is fresh, clever, or unusual. Every novel idea is new, but not every new idea is novel, since many new things are ordinary. Novel adds a sense of inventive originality that new lacks.
Is novel a positive word?
Usually, yes. Describing something as novel suggests it is refreshingly original and inventive, which is generally a compliment. It can occasionally carry a hint of caution, since a novel method may be untested, but on the whole it praises creativity and a welcome break from the familiar.
What is an example of something novel?
A novel solution to a problem is one no one has tried before, approached in an original way. A phone with a genuinely novel design breaks from what competitors offer. In science, a novel technique introduces a fresh method. In each case, novelty lies in its originality, not just its newness.
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