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

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

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

She said she’s starting to see companies asking applicants to submit videos instead of cover letters — so she’s going to come up with a video cover letter of her own.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

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

But if AI is being used, Reed suggests it is probably comparing the job description with your CV or cover letter so you should "try and mirror the job description with your skills and experience".

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 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