diff --git a/base/ordering.jl b/base/ordering.jl
index 13f5eceb2d4dc..36d8e90064eba 100644
--- a/base/ordering.jl
+++ b/base/ordering.jl
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ export # not exported by Base
 """
     Base.Order.Ordering
 
-Abstract type which represents a total order on some set of elements.
+Abstract type which represents a strict weak order on some set of elements. See
+[`sort!`](@ref) for more.
 
 Use [`Base.Order.lt`](@ref) to compare two elements according to the ordering.
 """