The specific literary term used to distinguish a novel from a play is

The specific literary term used to distinguish a novel from a play is "genre." Genre refers to the category or type of literature that a particular work belongs to. A novel is a type of literary work that is usually written in prose and tells a long and complex story, while a play is a type of literary work that is usually written in dialogue and is meant to be performed on stage. So, while both novels and plays are forms of literature, they belong to different genres based on their unique characteristics and intended audience.