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 ghosting thing is a very real problem,” he said — adding that hasn’t seen any evidence that a cover letter improves the chances of a response for GigHQ users.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

Having a killer cover letter used to be the way to stand out from other applicants with similar resumes.

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

Inside she finds a cover letter and a resume.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri