Novelist

ˈnɒvəlɪst

nounmediumCommonLiterature

Definitions

1

A writer of novels; a person who composes fictional narratives of considerable length and complexity.

ˈnɒvəlɪst

nounneutralmedium
Literature

A person who writes novels.

The young novelist spent years perfecting her craft.

💡 Simply: A novelist is someone who writes long stories called novels, like the ones you read in your free time! They create characters and adventures.

👶 For kids: A novelist is someone who writes long stories called novels. They make up characters and exciting adventures!

More Examples

2

Many famous novelists started writing in their youth.

3

The annual book award recognizes outstanding novelists.

4

Some novelists also write short stories.

How It's Used

Literary

"The novelist's latest book has received critical acclaim."

General

"She aspired to become a successful novelist."

From 'novel' + '-ist'. 'Novel' comes from the Italian 'novella', meaning 'a short story'. The suffix '-ist' indicates a person who practices or is skilled in something.

The term 'novelist' gained prominence in the 18th and 19th centuries with the rise of the novel as a popular literary form.

Memory tip

Think of a person with a novel idea, using a pen to make their story come alive on paper; a novelist.

novelestnovilist

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written