diff --git a/pandas/core/frame.py b/pandas/core/frame.py
index e9be7a3e9afb8..8f7b6ecdc3b13 100644
--- a/pandas/core/frame.py
+++ b/pandas/core/frame.py
@@ -3828,8 +3828,8 @@ def rename(self, *args, **kwargs):
         copy : boolean, default True
             Also copy underlying data
         inplace : boolean, default False
-            Whether to return a new DataFrame. If True then value of copy is
-            ignored.
+            Modify the DataFrame in place (do not create a new object).
+            If True then value of copy is ignored.
         level : int or level name, default None
             In case of a MultiIndex, only rename labels in the specified
             level.
diff --git a/pandas/core/generic.py b/pandas/core/generic.py
index bb82c531b698e..2419ae4267724 100644
--- a/pandas/core/generic.py
+++ b/pandas/core/generic.py
@@ -980,8 +980,8 @@ def rename(self, *args, **kwargs):
         copy : boolean, default True
             Also copy underlying data
         inplace : boolean, default False
-            Whether to return a new %(klass)s. If True then value of copy is
-            ignored.
+            Modify the %(klass)s inplace (do not create a new object).
+            If True then value of copy is ignored.
         level : int or level name, default None
             In case of a MultiIndex, only rename labels in the specified
             level.