Phrase guide

cover letter

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A letter or written communication that serves to introduce an accompanying document; especially, a letter that introduces a résumé or curriculum vitae.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a letter sent along with other documents to provide additional information

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: covering letter

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: letter, missive

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: carta de presentació — letter to introduce a document
  • Chinese Mandarin: 附信 (fùxìn) — letter to introduce a document
  • Chinese Mandarin: 附函 (fùhán) — letter to introduce a document
  • Chinese Mandarin: 求職信 /求职信 (qiúzhíxìn) — letter to introduce a document
  • Czech: průvodní dopis — letter to introduce a document
  • Czech: motivační dopis — letter to introduce a document
  • Dutch: begeleidbrief — letter to introduce a document
  • Dutch: begeleidende brief — letter to introduce a document
  • Dutch: motivatiebrief — letter to introduce a document
  • Dutch: sollicitatiebrief — letter to introduce a document
  • Finnish: saatekirje — letter to introduce a document
  • French: lettre de motivation — letter to introduce a document
  • German: Anschreiben — letter to introduce a document
  • Hebrew: מכתב מקדים (mikhtáv makdím) — letter to introduce a document
  • Hungarian: kísérőlevél — letter to introduce a document
  • Hungarian: motivációs levél — letter to introduce a document
  • Indonesian: surat pengantar — letter to introduce a document
  • Italian: lettera di presentazione — letter to introduce a document
  • Japanese: 志望書 (shibōsho) — letter to introduce a document
  • Korean: 자기소개서 (jagisogaeseo) — letter to introduce a document
  • Macedonian: про́пратно пи́смо (própratno písmo) — letter to introduce a document
  • Polish: list motywacyjny — letter to introduce a document
  • Russian: сопроводи́тельное письмо́ (soprovodítelʹnoje pisʹmó) — letter to introduce a document
  • Spanish: carta de presentación — letter to introduce a document
  • Swedish: personligt brev — letter to introduce a document
  • Ukrainian: супровідний лист (suprovidnyj lyst) — letter to introduce a document