diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/ref/alter_table.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/ref/alter_table.sgml
index 19f2a2e76f1..e602ad34171 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/ref/alter_table.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/ref/alter_table.sgml
@@ -740,7 +740,7 @@ ALTER TABLE [ IF EXISTS ] <replaceable class="PARAMETER">name</replaceable>
       <term><replaceable class="PARAMETER">constraint_name</replaceable></term>
       <listitem>
        <para>
-        Name of an existing constraint to drop.
+        Name of a new or existing constraint.
        </para>
       </listitem>
      </varlistentry>