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

Penned in 1942 on Long Island and published a year later, Saint Exupéry’s timeless novella feels more relevant than ever. —Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

Most Carmen opera or ballet productions draw the story from the 1854 novella by French writer Prosper Mérimée — and generally are set in 19th century Spain. —Lisa Vernon Sparks, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2025

That’s the signal of a new chapter in a Tigers career that could make up the plot of a distressing novella. —Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025

An adaptation of the Max Porter novella Grief Is the Thing With Feathers, the drama revolves around a widower (Cumberbatch) who is left to raise two young sons after the unexpected death of his wife. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2025

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