novelty

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. something new and unusual that people are interested in for a short time.

n. a new or unfamiliar thing or experience, often one that attracts temporary interest.

“Electric cars were a novelty twenty years ago, but now they are common.”

“In the late nineteenth century, the telephone was regarded as a mere scientific novelty rather than a transformative tool for global commerce.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a small, cheap object sold as a toy or a decoration, often for a joke.

n. a small, inexpensive, mass-produced article, typically intended for amusement or as a souvenir.

“The shop was full of plastic novelties and cheap souvenirs for tourists.”

“The company specialised in manufacturing seasonal novelties, ranging from glow-in-the-dark skeletons to miniature musical snow globes.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

adj. describing something made to look funny or unusual rather than to be useful.

adj. intended for amusement or display rather than serious functional use; often used attributively.

“He wore a novelty tie with dancing penguins to the office party.”

“The gift shop was stocked with novelty oversized sunglasses and hats that served no purpose other than to act as props for photographs.”