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Definition of novella

novella

/noʊˈvɛl.ə/
no · vel · la
Plural:novellas
•
Adjective:novellistic
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novella Lexical Profile

novella Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A work of narrative prose fiction that is longer and more complex than a short story, yet shorter and more focused than a full-length novel.

Example

"The literature syllabus includes Ernest Hemingway's classic novella about an aging fisherman."

2

In Italian and early European literature, a short, realistic prose tale often featuring a satirical, moral, or humorous twist, as popularized by Boccaccio's 'Decameron'.

Example

"Many Elizabethan playwrights adapted plots directly from translated collections of the Italian novella."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for novella

• Rhymes for novella

• Nearby Words

novelistic
novelization
novelize
novella
novelty
november
novice

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the 16th century from Italian 'novella' (literally 'a new thing' or 'piece of news'), from the feminine form of Late Latin 'novellus' ('new, young, recent'), a diminutive of Latin 'novus' ('new'). The literary form gained prominence through Giovanni Boccaccio's 14th-century collection 'The Decameron'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Novella. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/novella
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