What does novelist mean?
A novelist is a writer who creates novels: extended works of fiction written in prose and typically shaped through sustained characters, plot, setting, and thematic development. The word is used for novelists writing in any literary tradition, though it most often appears in discussions of published books and the literary arts. In everyday contexts, it is a more specific alternative to “writer” or “author,” since it identifies the writer's principal or characteristic form. A novelist need not write exclusively novels, but the term implies a recognized body or gift for this kind of work. Expressions such as “a famous novelist,” “a prolific novelist,” and “a contemporary novelist” are common. The word is useful when discussing not only individual books but also literary movements, national traditions, influences, and the relationship between fiction and social experience.
nounA novelist is a person who writes novels, especially long fictional works that develop a narrative through characters, events, and themes.
- A person who writes novels, especially literary or long-form fiction.
"She became a celebrated novelist whose books explore memory, family, and social change."
"The novelist returned to the coast in search of material for her next book."
"His debut novel established him as a novelist whose work was translated widely."
The standard plural is “novelists.”
"The exhibition brought together writers, poets, and novelists from across the region."
A novelist may write about an entire world in prose, turning ordinary lives into unforgettable journeys.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does novelist come from?
The word “novelist” was formed in the early 19th century from “novel,” meaning a new or relatively recent kind of lengthy prose fiction, combined with the suffix “-ist,” denoting a person who practices or specializes in something. “Novel” itself comes through French from Italian novella, a feminine form of novello, “new,” and ultimately from Latin novus, meaning “new.” The same Latin root also underlies words such as “novice,” “novelty,” and “innovate.”
Related word forms
How novelist is actually used
The term is generally neutral and applies to writers of novels in prose. It may also be used figuratively to describe someone who creates long, intricate fictional narratives.