novel
gb/nˈɑvəl/ us/nˈɑvəl/
B1
English
~ 2200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
A long fictional book
A long book that tells a made-up story.
Usage pattern:
read [a/the] novel
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'novel' with 'short story'; a novel is much longer.
Synonyms
fiction (A broader term for any invented story, not necessarily in book form.)
|
story (More general and can be short or long; not limited to books.)
Antonyms
nonfiction (Refers to writing based on facts rather than imagination.)
Collocations
write a novel
|read a novel
|bestselling novel
|debut novel
|historical novel
Themes
literature
|arts
|arts_entertainment
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She spent the summer reading a historical novel.
- His first novel became an international bestseller.
- The novel explores themes of love and betrayal.
- Many novels are later adapted into films.
- I prefer novels with strong female protagonists.
Learner examples
- I am reading a long novel.
- She wrote a novel about her life.
- This novel is very interesting.
- He likes to read novels at night.
adjective
B2
property
2
New and unusual
New and different from anything before.
Usage pattern:
[a] novel [idea/method/approach]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'novel' as adjective refers to books only; it can mean 'new and different'.
Synonyms
innovative (Suggests creativity and forward-thinking, often in technology or business.)
|
original (Emphasizes being the first of its kind or not copied.)
Antonyms
traditional (Established over time and not new or different.)
|
conventional (Following usual practices or standards.)
Collocations
novel idea
|novel approach
|novel solution
|novel concept
Themes
innovation
|ideas
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The engineer proposed a novel solution to the problem.
- Her research takes a novel approach to climate change.
- They came up with a novel way to recycle plastic waste.
- This novel method could save both time and money.
Learner examples
- He had a novel idea for the game.
- We need a novel way to fix this.
- She used a novel method in her work.
Grammar
Dictionary form
novel
IPA
GB/nˈɑvəl/
US/nˈɑvəl/
Syllables & stress
nov - el (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (nov)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: novel
Noun
- Base: novel
- Plural: novels
Word family
Expressions
novel coronavirus
1/nˈɑvəl kˈɔɹoʊnəvɪɹəs/
fixed phrase
technical
New type of coronavirus
A new kind of coronavirus that has not been found in people before.
Examples
- The outbreak was caused by a novel coronavirus.
- Scientists are studying how the novel coronavirus spreads.
graphic novel
1/ɡɹˈæfɪk nˈɑvəl/
fixed phrase
Book-length comic story with art
A long story told in pictures like a comic book, often for adults or older readers.
Examples
- She borrowed a graphic novel from the library.
- He’s reading a graphic novel about World War II.
- Graphic novels are popular among both teens and adults.
- Many graphic novels are now adapted into films.