novelty

American  

[nov-uhl-tee] / ˈnɒv əl ti /

noun

• novelties
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• novelties
  plural

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

See Examples For:

novelty novelties

But he would expect the "novelty to soon wear off", and would be "surprised" if many people returned to place more than about 10 imaginary orders.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Parton understood the novelty of owning your very own book.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Eventually, the novelty of the road trip fades, and hope subsides.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

In the same way that regional brands like Shake Shack and In-N-Out have maintained cult followings for their novelty, Cane’s has no doubt benefited from the same kind of rarefied air.

From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2026

On the back a novelty license plate spelled Amanda.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

I decided to speak, both because that’s how therapy is typically carried out, and because I wanted to get a sense of this space’s technical novelties.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

These two stories might seem like unrelated novelties — a viral toy and a tech-bro flex from a provincial government.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026

His goal with these novelties was to both educate visitors about scientific principles and get children excited about the subject, which can get flattened in the traditional school system.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 13, 2026

Like every year, robots are a major presence at CES, with companies hoping they will break into the mainstream as useful devices instead of novelties.

From Barron's ● Jan. 7, 2026

I saw two extraordinary novelties, grandeur competing with splendor and the populace striving to exceed their city.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro

Related Words

• freshness
• innovation
• oddity
• uniqueness