cover story

noun

1. a magazine article highlighted by an illustration on the cover.
2. a fabricated story used to conceal a true purpose; alibi:

   No one believed the cover story released to the press.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cover story¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

A few years after his initial visit to Okinawa, Buettner published a cover story in National Geographic called “The secrets of long life.”

From Science Magazine

The final portion of Washington’s cover story centers on a moment from the film’s festival run.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think it’s going to make me do more household chores,” Krasinski cracked in his cover story.

From Los Angeles Times

But that changed in September, when Grande addressed the media stir surrounding her relationship with Slater in a Vanity Fair cover story.

From Los Angeles Times

The cover story of this week's Economist magazine is "The American economy, the envy of the world."

From Salon

Related Words

• alibi
• apology
• justification
• pretext
• rationalization
• substitute
• trick