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

Burroughs, the author of the novella the film is based on, had a similar encounter with his second wife, writer Joan Vollmer. —Barry Levitt, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024

Otherwise, the film is remarkably faithful to Charles Dickens’ original novella, preserving the gothic elements and darker themes without too much sentimentality. —Janey Tracey, EW.com, 29 Nov. 2024

In February 2018, All Systems Red was nominated for a Nebula award for best novella. —Meghan Herbst, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2024

Craig stars in the feature take of the 1985 William S. Burroughs novella, a fever-dream retelling of the author’s trippy and romantic time living in 1950s Mexico. —Justin Kroll, Deadline, 20 Nov. 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