diff --git a/doc/file.man b/doc/file.man
index 761a51cf..90129c8c 100644
--- a/doc/file.man
+++ b/doc/file.man
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ operating system
 that the file is a binary executable, and which of several types thereof.
 The concept of a
 .Dq magic
-has been applied by extension to data files.
+marker has been applied by extension to data files.
 Any file with some invariant identifier at a small fixed
 offset into the file can usually be described in this way.
 The information identifying these files is read from the compiled