coverage
- 1The attention that newspapers, TV, or websites give to a news story or topic.
Like a spotlight: the more it shines on something, the more people notice it.
The storm got a lot of coverage on the local news.
Their wedding received coverage in every major magazine.
UsagePeople say a story gets coverage, or a lot of coverage.
Similarreporting, attention, publicity
Note
- 2What an insurance plan will pay for, and the people it protects.
My new job comes with dental coverage for the whole family.
We called the company to ask if our coverage would pay for the broken window.
UsageSay coverage for something: coverage for the broken window.
Similarprotection
- 3How much something or someone is covered, for example by paint, snow or staff.
Like a blanket spread over a bed: the more there is, the more it hides.
This paint gives good coverage with just one coat.
We need more coverage at the front desk during lunch.
Note
- 4The area where a phone or radio signal can be picked up, and how good the signal is there.
Like the puddle of light under a street lamp: step outside it and you're in the dark.
We lost coverage as soon as we drove into the mountains.
There's no coverage in this part of the building.
UsagePeople say they have or lose coverage.
Note
- 5
Less common meaning
- 6In DNA sequencing, the average number of times each DNA letter is read.
Practice
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Origin
From the word "cover" plus the ending "-age." First used in 1912.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Coverage is formed from cover plus the suffix -age. en.wiktionary.org
- The modern English word is first attested in 1912. en.wiktionary.org