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

• narrative
• novelette
• short story
• story
• tale
• yarn

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

Florian Frerichs’ new adaptation of Arthur Schnitzler’s famed erotic novella — the work that inspired Stanley Kubrick‘s Eyes Wide Shut — promises to be a much more explicit version of the story. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Sep. 2024

Gillan's latest film The Life of Chuck — which also features appearances from Mia Sara, Carl Lumbly, Benjamin Pajak, Jacob Tremblay and Mark Hamill — is an adaption of a Stephen King novella from 2020. —Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2024

The movie is an adaptation of a William S. Burroughs novella, a gay romance set in 1940s Mexico City. —Lisa Respers France, CNN, 4 Sep. 2024

Samatar’s novella imagines a fleet of spaceships powered by an underclass held in chains below decks, and a professor who develops a scholarship program to bring one of the boys in chains to the world above. —Constance Grady, Vox, 20 July 2024

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

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