newness

[noo-nis, nyoo-]

noun

1. the fact or condition of having been only recently produced, purchased, discovered or learned about, etc..

   If the brakes seem a little “grabby,” it may be due to the newness of the car—just over 1,500 miles on the odometer.

2. the fact or quality of being unfamiliar or novel.

   It's a sweet song, speaking of the newness and excitement of falling in love for the first time.

3. the fact or condition of being unaccustomed to or unfamiliar with something (often followed byto ).

   Use your newness to the business as an excuse to bumble around, introduce yourself, and take people out to coffee.

4. the fact or condition of being fresh or previously unused or untouched.

   Following the blizzard, the newness of the snow cover made the ravine a serene-looking place.

5. the fact or quality of being different and better than before.

   For Christians, baptism symbolizes the death and burial of their old life and their resurrection to “walk in newness of life.”

Other Word Forms

• unnewness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of newness¹

First recorded before 900; new ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

The relative newness of the floating technology may work in the state’s favor, as it will probably be several years before any work begins in the water.

From Los Angeles Times

The money, the newness, the influence have gone west or south; the older neighborhoods, the racial mix are largely east or north.

From Los Angeles Times

I wondered if what I felt for Andre was novelty, the newness of initial attraction.

From Salon

Alas, it seems originality was not the goal with “Karate Kids: Legends,” even if those hints of newness are the most interesting part of the movie.

From Los Angeles Times

“I feel like we are ahead of the curve in terms of our newness,” said Jackson of the reimagined Sparks.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• novelty 
• uniqueness