diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/options.py b/django/contrib/admin/options.py
index 8ffc460177..f466614061 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/options.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/options.py
@@ -559,6 +559,7 @@ class ModelAdmin(BaseModelAdmin):
     list_max_show_all = 200
     list_editable = ()
     search_fields = ()
+    search_help_text = None
     date_hierarchy = None
     save_as = False
     save_as_continue = True
@@ -747,6 +748,7 @@ class ModelAdmin(BaseModelAdmin):
             self.list_editable,
             self,
             sortable_by,
+            self.search_help_text,
         )
 
     def get_object(self, request, object_id, from_field=None):
diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/static/admin/css/changelists.css b/django/contrib/admin/static/admin/css/changelists.css
index b4a1557887..a4baf32955 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/static/admin/css/changelists.css
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/static/admin/css/changelists.css
@@ -125,6 +125,10 @@
     margin-right: 4px;
 }
 
+#changelist-search .help {
+    word-break: break-word;
+}
+
 /* FILTER COLUMN */
 
 #changelist-filter {
diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/templates/admin/search_form.html b/django/contrib/admin/templates/admin/search_form.html
index 75c629cd62..fd7818a9f8 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/templates/admin/search_form.html
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/templates/admin/search_form.html
@@ -12,5 +12,9 @@
     {% if pair.0 != search_var %}<input type="hidden" name="{{ pair.0 }}" value="{{ pair.1 }}">{% endif %}
 {% endfor %}
 </div>
+{% if cl.search_help_text %}
+<br class="clear">
+<div class="help">{{ cl.search_help_text }}</div>
+{% endif %}
 </form></div>
 {% endif %}
diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/views/main.py b/django/contrib/admin/views/main.py
index e446cc716e..9ac557ea71 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/views/main.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/views/main.py
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ class ChangeList:
 
     def __init__(self, request, model, list_display, list_display_links,
                  list_filter, date_hierarchy, search_fields, list_select_related,
-                 list_per_page, list_max_show_all, list_editable, model_admin, sortable_by):
+                 list_per_page, list_max_show_all, list_editable, model_admin, sortable_by,
+                 search_help_text):
         self.model = model
         self.opts = model._meta
         self.lookup_opts = self.opts
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@ class ChangeList:
         self.model_admin = model_admin
         self.preserved_filters = model_admin.get_preserved_filters(request)
         self.sortable_by = sortable_by
+        self.search_help_text = search_help_text
 
         # Get search parameters from the query string.
         _search_form = self.search_form_class(request.GET)
diff --git a/docs/ref/contrib/admin/index.txt b/docs/ref/contrib/admin/index.txt
index f1c64bea28..99d6d2dcc8 100644
--- a/docs/ref/contrib/admin/index.txt
+++ b/docs/ref/contrib/admin/index.txt
@@ -1381,6 +1381,13 @@ subclass::
 
         Support for searching against quoted phrases with spaces was added.
 
+.. attribute:: ModelAdmin.search_help_text
+
+    .. versionadded:: 4.0
+
+    Set ``search_help_text`` to specify a descriptive text for the search box
+    which will be displayed below it.
+
 .. attribute:: ModelAdmin.show_full_result_count
 
     Set ``show_full_result_count`` to control whether the full count of objects
diff --git a/docs/releases/4.0.txt b/docs/releases/4.0.txt
index 761b47b982..54de681a81 100644
--- a/docs/releases/4.0.txt
+++ b/docs/releases/4.0.txt
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ Minor features
 * The new context variable ``model`` which contains the model class for each
   model is added to the :meth:`.AdminSite.each_context` method.
 
+* The new :attr:`.ModelAdmin.search_help_text` attribute allows specifying a
+  descriptive text for the search box.
+
 :mod:`django.contrib.admindocs`
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
diff --git a/tests/admin_changelist/tests.py b/tests/admin_changelist/tests.py
index c5910d6bdb..0b8535beb7 100644
--- a/tests/admin_changelist/tests.py
+++ b/tests/admin_changelist/tests.py
@@ -1328,6 +1328,22 @@ class ChangeListTests(TestCase):
         # The "Add" button inside the object-tools shouldn't appear.
         self.assertNotIn('Add ', response.rendered_content)
 
+    def test_search_help_text(self):
+        superuser = self._create_superuser('superuser')
+        m = BandAdmin(Band, custom_site)
+        # search_fields without search_help_text.
+        m.search_fields = ['name']
+        request = self._mocked_authenticated_request('/band/', superuser)
+        response = m.changelist_view(request)
+        self.assertIsNone(response.context_data['cl'].search_help_text)
+        self.assertNotContains(response, '<div class="help">')
+        # search_fields with search_help_text.
+        m.search_help_text = 'Search help text'
+        request = self._mocked_authenticated_request('/band/', superuser)
+        response = m.changelist_view(request)
+        self.assertEqual(response.context_data['cl'].search_help_text, 'Search help text')
+        self.assertContains(response, '<div class="help">Search help text</div>')
+
 
 class GetAdminLogTests(TestCase):