diff --git a/Doc/library/functions.rst b/Doc/library/functions.rst
--- a/Doc/library/functions.rst
+++ b/Doc/library/functions.rst
@@ -1222,8 +1222,10 @@
    The ``@staticmethod`` form is a function :term:`decorator` -- see the
    description of function definitions in :ref:`function` for details.
 
-   It can be called either on the class (such as ``C.f()``) or on an instance (such
-   as ``C().f()``).  The instance is ignored except for its class.
+   It can be called either on the class (such as ``cls.f()`` in a class method
+   context, or ``C.f()`` in a static method context or a non-method context) or
+   on an instance (such as ``self.f()`` in a method context or ``C().f()`` in a
+   non-method context).  The instance is ignored except for its class.
 
    Static methods in Python are similar to those found in Java or C++. Also see
    :func:`classmethod` for a variant that is useful for creating alternate class