diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
index 40b21ec02dc6..08d6cb3dd175 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
@@ -6240,7 +6240,14 @@ def contour(self, *args, **kwargs):
         contours = mcontour.QuadContourSet(self, *args, **kwargs)
         self._request_autoscale_view()
         return contours
-    contour.__doc__ = mcontour.QuadContourSet._contour_doc
+    contour.__doc__ = """
+        Plot contour lines.
+
+        Call signature::
+
+            contour([X, Y,] Z, [levels], **kwargs)
+
+        """ + mcontour.QuadContourSet._contour_doc
 
     @_preprocess_data()
     def contourf(self, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -6248,7 +6255,14 @@ def contourf(self, *args, **kwargs):
         contours = mcontour.QuadContourSet(self, *args, **kwargs)
         self._request_autoscale_view()
         return contours
-    contourf.__doc__ = mcontour.QuadContourSet._contour_doc
+    contourf.__doc__ = """
+        Plot filled contours.
+
+        Call signature::
+
+            contourf([X, Y,] Z, [levels], **kwargs)
+
+        """ + mcontour.QuadContourSet._contour_doc
 
     def clabel(self, CS, levels=None, **kwargs):
         """
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/contour.py b/lib/matplotlib/contour.py
index c06621c272c3..d700beeee916 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/contour.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/contour.py
@@ -1555,11 +1555,6 @@ def _initialize_x_y(self, z):
         return np.meshgrid(x, y)
 
     _contour_doc = """
-        Plot contours.
-
-        Call signature::
-
-            contour([X, Y,] Z, [levels], **kwargs)
 
         `.contour` and `.contourf` draw contour lines and filled contours,
         respectively.  Except as noted, function signatures and return values