novella

noun

no·​vel·​la nō-ˈve-lə 

plural novellas or novelle nō-ˈve-lē 

1

plural novelle : a story with a compact and pointed plot

2

plural novellas : a work of fiction intermediate in length and complexity between a short story and a novel

Synonyms of novella

• tale
• story

Examples of novella in a Sentence

pressed for time, many English teachers have their students read the one novella among the novelist's works

Recent Examples on the Web

The opera, and the novella it is based on, were written in French. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026

The chiller is adapted from Elizabeth Engstrom’s cult 1980s novella of the same name. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026

This pair of novellas is about a middle-aged woman, the heroine’s sister, who comes to Tokyo intent on obtaining breast implants and a protagonist contemplating artificial insemination in a culture that doubts the procedure’s morality. —Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026

Continuing about contrasts, Lighton outlined the decision to have Colin’s character be part of a barbershop quartet in the movie, rather than part of a Mensa group, the latter of which is used in the novella. —Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, "piece of news, announcement, story, narrative," noun derivative from feminine of novello "new," going back to Latin novellus "young, tender (of plants or animals)," from novus "new" + -ellus, diminutive suffix — more at new entry 1

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for novella

• brucella
• candela
• capella
• chlorella
• flagella
• glabella
• lamella
• marcella
• mustela
• patella
• predella
• prunella

Kids Definition

novella

noun

no·​vel·​la nō-ˈvel-ə 

: a work of fiction falling between a short story and a novel in length and complexity