A cover story is the main article, announced on the front. This week's cover story, the cover story ran to six pages, land the cover story.
It is the piece a magazine sells itself on, which is why the headline and the image are argued over more than the writing. In spying the same phrase means an invented account of who you are and why you are there, which must survive being checked.
1nouncover storyThe main article of a magazine, announced on the front.
“The magazine's cover story this month is an interview with a famous explorer.”
2nouninventedAn invented account used to hide the truth.
“The spy's cover story was that she was a teacher on a walking holiday.”
cover story is an article, or a pretence.
Practised in News & Communication, Spying & Secrecy