From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishnoveltynov‧el‧ty /ˈnɒvəlti $ ˈnɑː-/ ●○○ noun (plural novelties) 1 [uncountable]NEW the quality of being new, unusual, and interestingnovelty of the novelty of the ideas Many toys have no attraction beyond their novelty value. It was fun for a while, but the novelty wore off (=it became boring).2 [countable]NEW something new and unusual which attracts people’s attention and interest Then the Internet was still something of a novelty.3 [countable]DCUNUSUAL an unusual small cheap object, often given as a present a selection of novelties and t-shirts a novelty key-ringCOLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1 & 2verbsbe a noveltyAt that time, air travel was still a novelty to many people.the novelty wears off (=something stops seeming new and interesting)Once the novelty had worn off he didn't play with his train set much.phrasesbe something of a novelty (=seem quite new and different)At that time, cars were still something of a novelty.be quite a novelty (=seem quite new and different)In the 1970s, a woman sports reporter was quite a novelty.the added novelty of somethingYou can attend the recording of the show, and get the added novelty of watching a radio programme being made.adjectivessheer novelty (=used when emphasizing how new and different something seems)Few pieces of music can match the sheer novelty of Sibelius's Sixth Symphony.novelty + NOUNnovelty value (=the extra interest that something receives because it is new)The car still sells well, though the novelty value has worn off.a novelty act (=a performance that is unusual and different)Mike Michaels the Mechanical Magician was one of the best novelty acts I've seen.
Examples from the Corpus
novelty• Fast-food restaurants like McDonald's are still something of a novelty in Moscow.• Retail analysts say that electronic shopping remains a novelty for most people• It was a novelty for people at college to see a student with two kids.• I must have known what a novelty you were.• a novelty key ring• In a few years, hand-held computers will not be novelties.• They sell a selection of crafts, novelties, and T-shirts.• Modern art thrives on novelty.• In criticizing scientific novelty, existing theories are usually available as a resource.• I loved driving to work at first, but the novelty soon wore off.• I was still enjoying the novelty of being married, and referring to Jenny as "my wife".• Jonny was given first prize and a cheque for £750 for the novelty of his idea and professional presentation.• But even more important, as far as Salomon was concerned, was the novelty of our deal.• The novelty bets appeal to those kinds of bettors.• The novelty of new subject matter and of the distinctive methods of foreign-language presentation awakens the student's curiosity or exploratory drive.• What is at stake in this novelty could scarcely be greater.• Yet novelty kept appearing relentlessly from the lips of stray Lyfordites, Baptists, and Quakers who later visited the wilderness community.novelty value• We had major novelty value - it's strange enough for a foreigner to visit the area let alone pose in a raft.• That's novelty value for you.• Well, I suppose you do have some novelty value.• Apart from the novelty value of this, there is the advantage of speed of execution.• This improvement in health could possibly be attributed to the novelty value of having a new puppy or kitten in the house.• The company opened a string of themed stores that have lost their novelty value.From Longman Business Dictionarynoveltynov‧el‧ty /ˈnɒvəltiˈnɑː-/ noun (plural novelties) [countable usually plural] a new, unusual product which is cheap to produce and will probably only be popular with customers for a short timea shop selling cheap toys, gifts, and noveltiesnovelty sweatshirts and sweatersOrigin novelty (1300-1400) Old French novelté, from novel; → NOVEL2 