cover charge

American

noun

a fee, in addition to the cost of food and drink, charged by a restaurant, nightclub, etc., for entertainment.

cover charge British

noun

a sum of money charged in a restaurant for each individual customer in addition to the cost of food and drink

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cover charge

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

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.

See Examples For:

cover charge

I have also been invited to parties like this, where there is a cover charge to celebrate, so I can empathize with your irritation.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

Pro tip: Bring cash for the cover charge, or plan to use the on-site ATM.

From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026

The acquisition of an elite quarterback is the cover charge for sustained NFL success, and they aced that part when they drafted and developed Mahomes.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 20, 2023

He refused to pay the cover charge at the establishment and “began making a scene,” so to avoid further embarrassment, she invited him to her home to “sleep it off,” the complaint says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2022

It is only 135 hours until we are all standing at the door of Atlantis again with our cover charge in our palms.

From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King

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