diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py b/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py
index 4eb9a2e66c01..4c33e8c9afc5 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/ticker.py
@@ -463,9 +463,11 @@ def __init__(self, useOffset=None, useMathText=None, useLocale=None, *,
         self.set_useLocale(useLocale)
 
     def get_usetex(self):
+        """Return whether TeX's math mode is enabled for rendering."""
         return self._usetex
 
     def set_usetex(self, val):
+        """Set whether to use TeX's math mode for rendering numbers in the formatter."""
         self._usetex = mpl._val_or_rc(val, 'text.usetex')
 
     usetex = property(fget=get_usetex, fset=set_usetex)