Novel vs. Fiction — What's the Difference?

Defined by a single, unified plot.

Explores invented scenarios, characters, or worlds.

A long narrative work of fiction.

Imaginative storytelling not based on factual events.

Focuses on themes, motifs, or messages.

Can include various forms like novels, short stories, and novellas.

A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the Italian: novella for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itself from the Latin: novella, a singular noun use of the neuter plural of novellus, diminutive of novus, meaning "new".Some novelists, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Ann Radcliffe, John Cowper Powys, preferred the term "romance" to describe their novels.

Usually written in prose, but can also include verse.

A fictional prose narrative of considerable length, typically having a plot that is unfolded by the actions, speech, and thoughts of the characters.

Purpose is often to entertain, inform, or provoke thought.

The literary genre represented by novels.

Fiction is any creative work (chiefly, any narrative work) consisting of people, events, or places that are imaginary—in other words, not based strictly on history or fact. In its most narrow usage, fiction refers to written narratives in prose and often specifically novels, though also novellas and short stories.

Strikingly new, unusual, or different.

Literature in the form of prose, especially novels, that describes imaginary events and people.

Newly made, formed or evolved; having no precedent; of recent origin; new.

Something that is invented or untrue

Original, especially in an interesting way; new and striking; not of the typical or ordinary type.

The category of literature, drama, film, or other creative work whose content is imagined and is not necessarily based on fact.

A work of prose fiction, longer than a novella.

Works in this category

(historical) A fable; a short tale, especially one of many making up a larger work.

A work within this category

(obsolete) A novelty; something new.

Narrative, explanatory material, or belief that is not true or has been imagined or fabricated

A new legal constitution in ancient Rome.

A narrative, explanation, or belief that may seem true but is false or fabricated

Of recent origin or introduction; not ancient; new; hence, out of the ordinary course; unusual; strange; surprising.

(Law) A verbal contrivance that is in some sense inaccurate but that accomplishes a purpose, as in the treatment of husband and wife as one person or a corporation as an entity.

That which is new or unusual; a novelty.

(literature) Literary type using invented or imaginative writing, instead of real facts, usually written as prose.

News; fresh tidings.

A verbal or written account that is not based on actual events (often intended to mislead).

A fictitious tale or narrative, longer than a short story, having some degree of complexity and development of characters; it is usually organized as a time sequence of events, and is commonly intended to exhibit the operation of the passions, and often of love.

(legal) A legal fiction.

A extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story

The act of feigning, inventing, or imagining; as, by a mere fiction of the mind.

A printed and bound book that is an extended work of fiction;

That which is feigned, invented, or imagined; especially, a feigned or invented story, whether oral or written. Hence: A story told in order to deceive; a fabrication; - opposed to fact, or reality.

Of a kind not seen before;

Fictitious literature; comprehensively, all works of imagination; specifically, novels and romances.

Pleasantly novel or different;

An assumption of a possible thing as a fact, irrespective of the question of its truth.

Contains developed characters and settings.

Any like assumption made for convenience, as for passing more rapidly over what is not disputed, and arriving at points really at issue.

Usually divided into chapters.

A literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact

A deliberately false or improbable account

While most novels are, it's not a strict requirement.

Fiction refers to imaginative storytelling not based on factual events.

Typically, but there are exceptions like minimalist novels.

It can be both; historical fiction can be presented in novel form or as shorter works.

Yes, fiction can include short stories, novellas, and even some poems.

A novel is a long-form narrative work of fiction.

Almost always; novels are generally long-form works of fiction.

Short stories, novellas, and some types of poems can be considered fiction.