cover letter

American

[kuhv-er let-er] / ˈkʌv ər ˈlɛt ər /

noun

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

Etymology

Origin of cover letter

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That starts with how you present yourself on your résumé and cover letter while going up against candidates who have outsourced the creation of those materials to AI.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

If so, get a haircut and your cover letter ready.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

Maybe you asked it for an essay structure to help answer a tricky question, provide an insightful analysis of a chunky data set, or to check if your cover letter matches the job description.

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2025

In a cover letter External link about the approval, the agency said that it believes the pipeline can comply with standards as long as Williams takes the necessary precautions.

From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025

She reads Dimitri’s resume again, then the cover letter.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023