diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/colors.py b/lib/matplotlib/colors.py
index 55090252d24e..5f909d07c190 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/colors.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/colors.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ class ColorSequenceRegistry(Mapping):
     Read access uses a dict-like interface mapping names to lists of colors::
 
         import matplotlib as mpl
-        cmap = mpl.color_sequences['tab10']
+        colors = mpl.color_sequences['tab10']
 
     The returned lists are copies, so that their modification does not change
     the global definition of the color sequence.