# novel

/ˈnɑvəɫ/ (US) · /nˈɒvəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/novel
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. fiction book

noun · CEFR A2

a long story about imaginary people and events, usually printed as a book.

For teachers: a fictional narrative in prose of considerable length, typically having a complex plot and character development.

- She spent the whole weekend reading a mystery novel by her favourite author.
- The author's debut novel received critical acclaim for its intricate structure and its nuanced exploration of historical trauma.

### 2. new and original

adjective · CEFR B2

new and different from anything that has been seen or done before.

For teachers: original or strikingly new in nature; having no precedent.

- The company came up with a novel way to recycle plastic bottles into clothing.
- The researchers proposed a novel hypothesis that challenged decades of established thinking in the field of molecular biology.

### 3. legal decree

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a new law or rule added to an existing collection of laws.

For teachers: a new legal constitution or decree, particularly those issued by Byzantine emperors after the initial codification of Roman law.

- The professor explained how the new Novel changed the inheritance laws of the time.
- The Justinian Code was supplemented by several Novellae, which addressed emerging administrative challenges within the empire.

Usage: Usually capitalized when referring to specific Roman or Byzantine legal collections.

## Examples

- She is reading a long novel by a famous writer.
- The author spent three years writing her first novel before finding a publisher who believed in the story.
- While short stories focus on a single moment or theme, the novel allows for intricate character development and multiple subplots that span decades.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.