diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes.py
index c957daa8c9e8..baa86f22cb87 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes.py
@@ -6044,7 +6044,7 @@ def scatter(self, x, y, s=20, c='b', marker='o', cmap=None, norm=None,
 
         %(Collection)s
 
-        A :class:`~matplotlib.collections.Collection` instance is
+        A :class:`~matplotlib.collections.PathCollection` instance is
         returned.
         """