diff --git a/man7/environ.7 b/man7/environ.7
index 8f89ba86b..dd35050b2 100644
--- a/man7/environ.7
+++ b/man7/environ.7
@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@ environment variables).
 The sequence of directory prefixes that
 .BR sh (1)
 and many other
-programs apply in searching for a file known by an incomplete pathname.
+programs employ when searching for an executable file that is specified
+as a simple filename (containing no slashes).
 The prefixes are separated by \(aq\fB:\fP\(aq.
 (Similarly one has
 .B CDPATH