novelty
Americannoun
plural
novelties-
state or quality of being novel, new, or unique; newness.
the novelty of a new job.
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a novel occurrence, experience, or proceeding.
His sarcastic witticisms had ceased being an entertaining novelty.
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an article of trade whose value is chiefly decorative, comic, or the like and whose appeal is often transitory.
a store catering to tourists who loaded up with souvenir pennants and other novelties.
adjective
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Textiles.
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(of a weave) consisting of a combination of basic weaves.
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(of a fabric or garment) having a pattern or design produced by a novelty weave.
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(of yarn) having irregularities within the fibrous structure.
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of or relating to novelties as articles of trade.
novelty goods; novelty items.
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having or displaying novelties.
novelty shop.
noun
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the quality of being new and fresh and interesting
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( as modifier )
novelty value
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a new or unusual experience or occurrence
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(often plural) a small usually cheap new toy, ornament, or trinket
Etymology
Origin of novelty
1350–1400; Middle English novelte < Middle French novelete < Late Latin novellitās newness. See novel 2, -ity
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The novelty of the device’s design also prompted Samsung to offer any buyer a one-time 50% discount on display repair costs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
Sooner or later, the final picture is going to lose its novelty.
From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026
Editors often rejected them on the grounds that replication work lacks novelty or that the field had already moved on after a few years.
From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026
“These models should continue to rapidly advance, but we think the ‘AI slop’ label remains a high barrier for many consumers, at least beyond the initial novelty and creation of memes.”
From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026
Shining X-rays on DNA did not require much novelty or expertise.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
