novelty

B2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈnɑvəlti/ UK /ˈnɒvəlti/ See IPA manual

Freq #14755

Meanings

1

noun
The quality of being new, unusual, and interesting.

The novelty of living abroad soon wore off.
2

noun
A small, cheap object made to amuse or for fun.

The shop sold party favors, knickknacks, and other novelties.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the quality of being new,... freshness newness

2 noun · a small, cheap object made... knickknack

Word family

Forms novelties

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

novelty shop
a shop selling unusual small items and gifts

Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle English novelte, from Old French novelté (Modern French nouveauté), from the adjective novel, ultimately from Latin novellus. By surface analysis, novel + -ty.

novelte Middle English novelté Old French novellus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# novelty

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈnɑvəlti/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈnɒvəlti/
**Frequency rank:** 14755

## Meanings
1. The quality of being new, unusual, and interesting.
2. A small, cheap object made to amuse or for fun.

## Examples
- The novelty of living abroad soon wore off.
- The shop sold party favors, knickknacks, and other novelties.

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: novelte
- Root: novelté
- Root: novellus
- Affix: -ty - state

## Etymology
From Middle English novelte, from Old French novelté (Modern French nouveauté), from the adjective novel, ultimately from Latin novellus. By surface analysis, novel + -ty.

## AI Etymology
Novelty comes from Middle English novelte, from Old French novelté (Modern French nouveauté), from the adjective novel, ultimately from Latin novellus. By surface analysis, novel + -ty. Modern senses include the quality of being new, unusual, and interesting and a small, cheap object made to amuse or for fun.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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