Novel
/ˈnɑːvəl/
adjectivenounB2
Definition
As an adjective, "novel" describes something that is new, original, or not seen before. It often refers to ideas, methods, or things that are fresh and different from the usual. As a noun, "novel" is a long story book that tells about people and events that are made up (not real).
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Adjective: New and original
- •The scientist proposed a novel solution to the problem.
- •They used a novel approach to teach the children.
- •The company developed a novel technology that no one had seen before.
Noun: A long written story book
- •She is reading a novel about space travel.
- •Many people enjoy reading novels in their free time.
- •The author wrote a novel that became very popular.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "novel" (adjective) like "new" (A1 word), but more special because it means something you haven't seen or tried before, not just recently made
- ✓Picture opening a book you've never read before and finding a story that surprises you with new ideas or characters (noun meaning)
- ✓It's the feeling of excitement when you try a new game or recipe that is different from all others you know
- ✓Sounds like "NOV-el" → imagine a "new novel" book full of fresh stories and ideas
- ✓Think of a famous novel like "Harry Potter" — a long, exciting story that many people read for fun
- ✓NOT like "new" (which can be simple and common), "novel" suggests something creative and original
- ✓NOT like "short story" (noun) — a novel is much longer and more detailed
- ✓NOT like "copy" or "old" — novel means the opposite: original and fresh
Try Other Words
- •Original: new and not copied (Use when emphasizing creativity or uniqueness)
- •Fresh: new and different in a good way (Use for ideas or approaches that feel lively and interesting)
- •Book: a general word for written works (Use when you want a simple word instead of "novel" as a noun)
- •Story: a shorter or simpler narrative (Use when the text is not very long or complex)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no prefix or suffix in this form)
- •Etymology: From Latin "novellus," a diminutive of "novus," meaning new
- •Historical development: Entered English in the late 1500s, first as adjective meaning new or recent, then as noun meaning a long fictional story
- •Modern usage: Used to describe new ideas, methods (adjective), and long fictional books (noun)
- •Interesting fact: The noun "novel" originally meant "a new kind of story" different from old tales
Reflect & Connect
•How can a novel idea change the way people solve problems in daily life?
•What makes a novel story different from a simple story you might tell a friend?
Fill in the blanks
1.The scientist introduced a novel idea that no one had ___ before.
2.She enjoys reading a novel because it tells a ___ story with many details.
3.Unlike old methods, a novel approach can offer ___ solutions.
4.The author’s novel became popular because it was very ___ and interesting.
5.When you say something is novel, you mean it is not ___ or copied.
6.Many students find it hard to write a novel because it requires a long ___.
7.A novel can be about real or imaginary events, but it usually tells a ___ story.