The invention relates to a battery cell, in particular a lithium-ion battery cell, wherein a cover plate (23) forming a part of a battery cell housing, which is designed as a plane sheet in a conventional manner, is modified to avoid short circuits between the poles of the battery cell due to moisture, for example. To this end, the cover plate (23) is provided with a central area (33) and an edge area (35) surrounding said central area (33). The central area (33) is located above an opening (14) to be closed off by the cover plate (23) of a container (13) forming a part of the battery cell housing, whereas the edge area (35) extends inside said opening (14). Thus, occurring moisture can drain off the platform-like raised central area (33) sideways toward a channel (37) in the edge area (35), and evaporate from there.