antinovel: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2literary, academic
Quick answer
What does “antinovel” mean?
A novel that deliberately avoids or subverts the traditional conventions of novel writing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A novel that deliberately avoids or subverts the traditional conventions of novel writing.
A work of fiction that consciously rejects standard narrative techniques like coherent plot, psychological character development, and realistic setting, often associated with mid-20th century literary movements like the French Nouveau Roman.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. The term is used identically in both varieties within literary and academic contexts.
Connotations
Carries connotations of intellectualism, avant-garde experimentation, and sometimes deliberate difficulty or inaccessibility.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general usage. Slightly more common in academic literary discourse, with no notable regional preference.
Grammar
How to Use “antinovel” in a Sentence
be considered an antinovelbe described as an antinovelwrite/publish/produce an antinovelVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “antinovel” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The author's antinovel tendencies were clear in her latest work.
- It was an antinovel approach to storytelling.
American English
- Her writing had a distinctly antinovel quality.
- The professor discussed antinovel techniques in postmodernism.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, postmodern theory, and comparative literature courses to discuss avant-garde fiction.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
A precise term in narratology and literary theory denoting a specific genre of fiction.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “antinovel”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “antinovel”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “antinovel”
- Using it to describe any novel one dislikes, rather than its specific literary genre.
- Confusing it with 'non-fiction novel'.
- Misspelling as 'anti-novel' (hyphenated form is less common in modern usage).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An antinovel is a deliberate artistic choice to subvert conventions, not an unintentionally poorly written work.
Alain Robbe-Grillet's 'Jealousy' (La Jalousie) and Samuel Beckett's 'Molloy' are often cited as key examples from the mid-20th century.
Yes, the term 'antinovel' defines its relationship to the novel genre; it is a type of novel that works against the grain of that genre's established norms.
The concept and term gained significant traction in the 1950s and 1960s, particularly with the French Nouveau Roman (New Novel) movement.
A novel that deliberately avoids or subverts the traditional conventions of novel writing.
Antinovel is usually literary, academic in register.
Antinovel: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæntiˌnɒv(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæntiˌnɑːvəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think ANTI-NOVEL: it's a novel that is 'against' (anti) the standard rules of what a novel should be.
Conceptual Metaphor
LITERATURE IS A CONVERSATION (the antinovel is a dissenting or contrarian voice in that conversation).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is most characteristic of an antinovel?