Meaning & Definition
noun
A relatively long work of fiction that tells a story about human experiences through interconnected characters and events.
She spent the summer reading a thrilling novel about a detective in Paris.
A fictitious prose narrative of book length, typically representing character and action with some degree of realism.
The author's latest novel explores themes of love and betrayal.
adjective
New or unusual in an interesting way.
The scientist proposed a novel approach to solving the energy crisis.
Different from anything seen or known before.
They presented a novel idea at the conference that challenged traditional methods.
Etymology
Derived from the Italian 'novella', meaning 'news' or 'new things'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
novel idea:
A new or original thought.
novel approach:
A new way of dealing with something.
to write a novel:
To create a long fictional story.
Slang Meanings
A novel can refer to any long story or narrative.
This game plays out like an interactive novel.
It can also signify something new or innovative.
He's got a novel idea for the app.