coverage

American  

[kuhv-er-ij, kuhv-rij] / ˈkʌv ər ɪdʒ, ˈkʌv rɪdʒ /

noun

1. Insurance. protection provided against risks or a risk, often as specified.

   Does the coverage include flood damage?

2. Journalism. the reporting and subsequent publishing or broadcasting of news.

   The World Series receives international coverage.

3. the extent to which something is covered.

4. the area, groups, or number of persons served or reached by a newspaper, radio or television station, advertising campaign, business, etc.; market.

5. Radio and Television. the area within the broadcasting range of a station or network, usually calculated by the number of owners of radio or television receivers.

6. Finance. the value of funds held to back up or meet liabilities.

7. Photography. covering power.

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coverage British  

/ ˈkʌvərɪdʒ /

noun

1. the amount or extent to which something is covered

2. journalism the amount and quality of reporting or analysis given to a particular subject or event

3. the extent of the protection provided by insurance

4. finance

   1. the value of liquid assets reserved to meet liabilities

   2. the ratio of liquid assets to specific liabilities

   3. the ratio of total net profit to distributed profit in a company

5. the section of the public reached by a medium of communication

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Etymology

Origin of coverage

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15; cover + -age

Explanation

Use the noun coverage to talk about how much something is covered or included. If your history book's coverage of the Civil War is skimpy, you might want to do some extra research at the library. There's the TV news coverage of the winter Olympics — in other words, the way they show and comment on the events — and the spotty coverage of your lawn by the grass you planted. Something is covered in both examples, either literally or figuratively, and it's more common to use coverage in a figurative way. There's also insurance coverage, or the extent of protection it provides: "I have the cheapest car insurance coverage, so it won't pay to fix these dents."

Example Sentences

It usually has an annual out-of-pocket maximum and sometimes offers dental and vision coverage.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

It’s also true that consumers become more sensitive to higher prices because press coverage makes the price hikes inescapable, and less so as prices fall, even if they don’t fully return to earlier levels.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

In 1986, CNN was the only broadcaster running live coverage when the Challenger shuttle liftoff ended in disaster.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

The network truly came of age with its live rolling coverage from Iraq during the 1990-1991 Gulf War.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

I had no doubt that national press coverage of Walter's case would not help our cause at the Court of Criminal Appeals.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

• analysis
• insurance
• report