diff --git a/modules/core/doc/basic_structures.rst b/modules/core/doc/basic_structures.rst
index c60d88dad..c3349ec77 100644
--- a/modules/core/doc/basic_structures.rst
+++ b/modules/core/doc/basic_structures.rst
@@ -1895,7 +1895,7 @@ Mat::channels
 -----------------
 .. cpp:function:: int Mat::channels(void) const
 
-    Returns a matrix element depth.
+    Returns the number of matrix channels.
 
 The method returns the number of matrix channels.