novelty

American  

[nov-uhl-tee] / ˈnɒv əl ti /

noun

plural

novelties

1. state or quality of being novel, new, or unique; newness.

   the novelty of a new job.

2. a novel occurrence, experience, or proceeding.

   His sarcastic witticisms had ceased being an entertaining novelty.

3. 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.

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adjective

1. Textiles.

   1. (of a weave) consisting of a combination of basic weaves.

   2. (of a fabric or garment) having a pattern or design produced by a novelty weave.

   3. (of yarn) having irregularities within the fibrous structure.

2. of or relating to novelties as articles of trade.

   novelty goods; novelty items.

3. having or displaying novelties.

   novelty shop.

novelty British  

/ ˈnɒvəltɪ /

noun

1. 1. the quality of being new and fresh and interesting

   2. ( as modifier )

      novelty value

2. a new or unusual experience or occurrence

3. (often plural) a small usually cheap new toy, ornament, or trinket

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Etymology

Origin of novelty

1350–1400; Middle English novelte < Middle French novelete < Late Latin novellitās newness. See novel ², -ity

Explanation

Novelty is a newness or refreshing quality. Many college freshmen enjoy the novelty of living on their own — until it comes time to do that first load of laundry. You'll often hear people talk about the novelty of a new experience — imagine the excitement and anticipation of cracking open a novel you’ve never read before to help remember the word. But novelty is also a term for a small toy or trinket, usually mass-produced. Novelty shops sell all kinds of funny knickknacks, from personalized flashlight key chains to stuffed singing hamsters.

Example Sentences

“Some people who had been purchasing Beyond Meat because they had thought it was healthier, or because of novelty, decided maybe I’ll just stick with the old tried-and-true and save a little money,” Stambor said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 12, 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

Travellers’ Tour Through the United States was a novelty that featured a hand-colored map of the then-24 states, peppered with towns and landmarks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

Ferris had created more than simply an engineering novelty.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• freshness
• innovation
• oddity
• uniqueness