Words / A2

NOV-uh-list/ˈnɒvəlɪst/

A novelist is a person who writes novels: a famous novelist, a crime novelist, the novelist’s latest book. Writer is wider (poems, articles too). Author is a close cousin. Poet writes poems. Do not write novelist when you mean novelty (something new and unusual).

Meaning

A person who writes novels.

Examples

• “The novelist signed copies of her book at the shop.”
• “The novelist grew up in this village.”
• “A local novelist is speaking at the bookshop tonight.”

Good to know

a famous novelist / a crime novelist. Wider: writer, author. Mix-up: novelty.

Near in meaning

author

New