diff --git a/src/psygnal/_signal.py b/src/psygnal/_signal.py
index e81b4f3a..6e285b18 100644
--- a/src/psygnal/_signal.py
+++ b/src/psygnal/_signal.py
@@ -395,6 +395,7 @@ def _create_signal_instance(
             self.signature,
             instance=instance,
             name=name or self._name,
+            description=self.description,
             check_nargs_on_connect=self._check_nargs_on_connect,
             check_types_on_connect=self._check_types_on_connect,
             reemission=self._reemission,
@@ -491,6 +492,19 @@ class Emitter:
     reemission : Literal["immediate", "queued", "latest-only"] | None
         See docstring for [`Signal`][psygnal.Signal] for details.
         By default, `"immediate"`.
+    description : str
+        Optional descriptive text for the signal.  (not used internally).
+
+    Attributes
+    ----------
+    signature : Signature
+        Signature supported by this `SignalInstance`.
+    instance : Any
+        Object that emits this `SignalInstance`.
+    name : str
+        Name of this `SignalInstance`.
+    description : str
+        Description of this `SignalInstance`.
 
     Raises
     ------
@@ -509,6 +523,7 @@ def __init__(
         *,
         instance: Any = None,
         name: str | None = None,
+        description: str = "",
         check_nargs_on_connect: bool = True,
         check_types_on_connect: bool = False,
         reemission: ReemissionVal = DEFAULT_REEMISSION,
@@ -521,6 +536,7 @@ def __init__(
                 "instance of `inspect.Signature`"
             )
 
+        self._description = description
         self._reemission = ReemissionMode.validate(reemission)
         self._name = name
         self._instance: Callable = self._instance_ref(instance)
@@ -572,6 +588,11 @@ def name(self) -> str:
         """Name of this `SignalInstance`."""
         return self._name or ""
 
+    @property
+    def description(self) -> str:
+        """Description of this `SignalInstance`."""
+        return self._description
+
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
         """Return repr."""
         name = f" {self._name!r}" if self._name else ""
diff --git a/tests/test_psygnal.py b/tests/test_psygnal.py
index 7696d594..bae11e33 100644
--- a/tests/test_psygnal.py
+++ b/tests/test_psygnal.py
@@ -1195,3 +1195,13 @@ def test_emit_loop_error_message_construction(strategy: ReemissionVal) -> None:
     if strategy == "queued":
         # check that we show a useful message for confusign queued signals
         assert "NOTE" in str(e.value)
+
+
+def test_description():
+    description = "A signal"
+
+    class T:
+        sig = Signal(description=description)
+
+    assert T.sig.description == description
+    assert T().sig.description == description