diff --git a/_pytest/mark.py b/_pytest/mark.py
index d9af0ffaa8d..e4b6238eb9e 100644
--- a/_pytest/mark.py
+++ b/_pytest/mark.py
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ def pytest_addoption(parser):
              "where all names are substring-matched against test names "
              "and their parent classes. Example: -k 'test_method or test_"
              "other' matches all test functions and classes whose name "
-             "contains 'test_method' or 'test_other'. "
+             "contains 'test_method' or 'test_other', while -k 'not test_method' "
+             "matches those that don't contain 'test_method' in their names. "
              "Additionally keywords are matched to classes and functions "
              "containing extra names in their 'extra_keyword_matches' set, "
              "as well as functions which have names assigned directly to them."
diff --git a/changelog/1442.doc b/changelog/1442.doc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..62ccf750471
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/1442.doc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+In help text of ``-k`` option, add example of using ``not`` to not select certain tests whose names match the provided expression.
\ No newline at end of file