cover letter

American  

[kuhv-er let-er] / ˈkʌv ər ˈlɛt ər /

noun

• cover letters
  plural

1. a letter that accompanies another letter, a package, or the like, to explain, commend, etc.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cover letters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cover letter

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cover letter

Now, it seems like the killer cover letter has lost its teeth, making the document an endangered species in the job hunt, according to recruiters and talent-acquisition professionals.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

A cover letter with a conversational tone can be a standout now, she added: “You almost want to do something to show it’s not the machine.”

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

“The cover letter is becoming obsolete,” Thompson told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

In a cover letter from the American teacher, dated three days after the disaster, she wrote: "Please convey to your children's parents our heartfelt feelings of compassion."

From BBC ● Apr. 4, 2026

I filled out the application, and in my cover letter I made it extremely clear to them that I was not applying for financial aid—that I was a one-hundred-percent cash-paying student.

From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos