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

“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

Lizza, who broke off his engagement with Nuzzi and announced that he would no longer cover stories related to Kennedy for Politico, denied the allegations on Tuesday.

From Salon

“I’m not Bob Dylan, and I’ve never pretended to be,” she told New York Magazine in a cover story published Monday.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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