novelty
noun
nov·el·ty ˈnä-vəl-tē 
plural novelties
1
: something new or unusual
the novelty of a self-driving car
2
: the quality or state of being novel : newness
an uncritical acceptance of novelty as advance
H. M. Jones
H. M. JonesA toy's novelty soon wears off.
3
: a small manufactured article intended mainly for personal or household adornment —usually used in plural
Disney novelties filled the shelves.
4
: something (such as a song or food item) that provides often fleeting amusement and is often based on a theme —often used attributively
The movie included a few novelty songs.
Synonyms
- freshness
- newness
- originality
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the novelty of space exploration Electric-powered cars are still novelties. Eating shark meat is a novelty to many people.
Recent Examples on the Web That novelty is one of the most underrated things about Samsung’s latest generation of connected appliances. Ebenezer Samuel, Men's Health, 12 Sep. 2022 Three years ago, the novelty was Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillie, facing Max Scherzer, Washington National, on opening night, one franchise player’s unspeakable departure squaring off against the current fan favorite. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 2 Aug. 2022 The great novelty of the new GMT-Master II is the position of the crown and cyclops date window on the left. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2022 In the end, Janet picked a new remote that looked nothing like the old one, because novelty was hard to come by. Clare Sestanovich, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 The novelty Kaiburr Crystal is one of several options for cruisers to purchase on the ship, with other cocktails and drinks coming in at a much, much lower price point. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 30 June 2022 Another novelty this year is the inaugural Unreal Engine Real-Time Short Film Challenge, Américas, Spain and Portugal where cash prizes of $10,000 will be given to each of the 10 winners by sponsor Epic Games. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 10 June 2022 The novelty of celebrating the truly banal is part of the appeal. Bon Appétit, 1 June 2022 That was a reasonable emphasis: Bennett's political fortunes were shaky before the trip, and the novelty of Israel playing mediator rather than being a party to mediation really was the story. Noah Millman, The Week, 10 Mar. 2022 See More
Ebenezer Samuel, Men's Health, 12 Sep. 2022 Three years ago, the novelty was Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillie, facing Max Scherzer, Washington National, on opening night, one franchise player’s unspeakable departure squaring off against the current fan favorite. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 2 Aug. 2022 The great novelty of the new GMT-Master II is the position of the crown and cyclops date window on the left. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2022 In the end, Janet picked a new remote that looked nothing like the old one, because novelty was hard to come by. Clare Sestanovich, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 The novelty Kaiburr Crystal is one of several options for cruisers to purchase on the ship, with other cocktails and drinks coming in at a much, much lower price point. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 30 June 2022 Another novelty this year is the inaugural Unreal Engine Real-Time Short Film Challenge, Américas, Spain and Portugal where cash prizes of $10,000 will be given to each of the 10 winners by sponsor Epic Games. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 10 June 2022 The novelty of celebrating the truly banal is part of the appeal. Bon Appétit, 1 June 2022 That was a reasonable emphasis: Bennett's political fortunes were shaky before the trip, and the novelty of Israel playing mediator rather than being a party to mediation really was the story. Noah Millman, The Week, 10 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English novelte, borrowed from Anglo-French novelté, from novel "new, novel entry 1" + -té -ty
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing novelty
Kids Definition
novelty
noun
nov·el·ty ˈnä-vəl-tē
plural novelties
1
: something new or unusual
Grandma remembers when television was a novelty.
2
: the quality or state of being new or unusual
The toy's novelty soon wore off.
3
: a small unusual ornament or toy
Legal Definition
novelty
noun
nov·el·ty ˈnä-vəl-tē
plural novelties
: the quality or state of being new : quality of being different from anything in prior existence
satisfied the requirement of novelty for a patent on the design
novelty
noun
1
as in newness
the quality or appeal of being new the novelty of having a cat wore off after the first time I had to change the litter box Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- newness
- innovation
- freshness
- originality
- progressiveness
- unusualness
- trendiness
- hipness
- unfamiliarity
- bizarreness
- departure
- strangeness
- recentness
- shoot
- currentness
- divergence
- up-to-dateness
- offshoot
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- familiarity
- banality
- commonness
- staleness
- outdatedness
2
as in notion
novelties plural small useful items travel kits filled with small bars of soap, a folding toothbrush, and other novelties Synonyms & Similar Words
- notion
- variety
- gadgets
- sundries
- gewgaws
- knickknacks
- trinkets
- baubles
- etceteras
- odds and ends
- gimmicks
- geegaws
- nicknacks
- bric-a-brac
- hodgepodge
- jiggers
- miscellany
3
as in ornamental
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest a shop selling souvenirs, T-shirts, and assorted novelties for tourists passing through Synonyms & Similar Words
- ornamental
- souvenir
- ornament
- knickknack
- bauble
- curio
- collectible
- gewgaw
- trinket
- curiosity
- tchotchke
- gaud
- gimcrack
- collectable
- nicknack
- bibelot
- kickshaw
- doodad
- trumpery
- geegaw
- gimcrackery
- bagatelle
- trifle
- keepsake
- memento
- figurine
- bric-a-brac
- bijouterie
- trinketry
- virtu
- objet
- conversation piece
- vertu
- objet d'art
- collector's item