diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/fix-protected-branches-descriptions.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/fix-protected-branches-descriptions.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8e233d9defd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/fix-protected-branches-descriptions.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+title: Clarify wording of protected branch settings for the default branch
+merge_request:
+author:
+type: other
diff --git a/doc/api/settings.md b/doc/api/settings.md
index 4e24e4bbfc3..b27220f57f4 100644
--- a/doc/api/settings.md
+++ b/doc/api/settings.md
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ PUT /application/settings
 | `clientside_sentry_enabled`              | boolean          | no                                            | Enable Sentry error reporting for the client side                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
 | `container_registry_token_expire_delay`  | integer          | no                                            | Container Registry token duration in minutes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
 | `default_artifacts_expire_in`            | string           | no                                            | Set the default expiration time for each job's artifacts                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
-| `default_branch_protection`              | integer          | no                                            | Determine if developers can push to master. Can take `0` _(not protected, both developers and masters can push new commits, force push or delete the branch)_, `1` _(partially protected, developers can push new commits, but cannot force push or delete the branch, masters can do anything)_ or `2` _(fully protected, developers cannot push new commits, force push or delete the branch, masters can do anything)_ as a parameter. Default is `2`. |
+| `default_branch_protection`              | integer          | no                                            | Determine if developers can push to master. Can take `0` _(not protected, both developers and masters can push new commits, force push, or delete the branch)_, `1` _(partially protected, developers and masters can push new commits, but cannot force push or delete the branch)_ or `2` _(fully protected, developers cannot push new commits, but masters can; no-one can force push or delete the branch)_ as a parameter. Default is `2`. |
 | `default_group_visibility`               | string           | no                                            | What visibility level new groups receive. Can take `private`, `internal` and `public` as a parameter. Default is `private`.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
 | `default_project_visibility`             | string           | no                                            | What visibility level new projects receive. Can take `private`, `internal` and `public` as a parameter. Default is `private`.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
 | `default_projects_limit`                 | integer          | no                                            | Project limit per user. Default is `100000`                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/access.rb b/lib/gitlab/access.rb
index b4012ebbb99..7127948cf00 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/access.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/access.rb
@@ -58,9 +58,9 @@ module Gitlab
       def protection_options
         {
           "Not protected: Both developers and masters can push new commits, force push, or delete the branch." => PROTECTION_NONE,
-          "Protected against pushes: Developers cannot push new commits, but are allowed to accept merge requests to the branch." => PROTECTION_DEV_CAN_MERGE,
-          "Partially protected: Developers can push new commits, but cannot force push or delete the branch. Masters can do all of those." => PROTECTION_DEV_CAN_PUSH,
-          "Fully protected: Developers cannot push new commits, force push, or delete the branch. Only masters can do any of those." => PROTECTION_FULL
+          "Protected against pushes: Developers cannot push new commits, but are allowed to accept merge requests to the branch. Masters can push to the branch." => PROTECTION_DEV_CAN_MERGE,
+          "Partially protected: Both developers and masters can push new commits, but cannot force push or delete the branch." => PROTECTION_DEV_CAN_PUSH,
+          "Fully protected: Developers cannot push new commits, but masters can. No-one can force push or delete the branch." => PROTECTION_FULL
         }
       end