diff --git a/docs/reference/query-dsl/exists-query.asciidoc b/docs/reference/query-dsl/exists-query.asciidoc
index 9c7553e314c..f35e97db8ec 100644
--- a/docs/reference/query-dsl/exists-query.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/reference/query-dsl/exists-query.asciidoc
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
 [[query-dsl-exists-query]]
 === Exists Query
 
-Returns documents that contain a value other than `null` or `[]` in a provided
-field.
+Returns documents that contain an indexed value for a field.
+
+An indexed value may not exist for a document's field due to a variety of reasons:
+
+* The field in the source JSON is `null` or `[]`
+* The field has `"index" : false` set in the mapping
+* The length of the field value exceeded an `ignore_above` setting in the mapping
+* The field value was malformed and `ignore_malformed` was defined in the mapping
 
 [[exists-query-ex-request]]
 ==== Example request
@@ -25,8 +31,7 @@ GET /_search
 `field`::
 Name of the field you wish to search.
 +
-To return a document, this field must exist and contain a value other
-than `null` or `[]`. These values can include:
+While a field is deemed non-existant if the JSON value is `null` or `[]`, these values will indicate the field does exist:
 +
 * Empty strings, such as `""` or `"-"`
 * Arrays containing `null` and another value, such as `[null, "foo"]`
@@ -36,13 +41,13 @@ than `null` or `[]`. These values can include:
 ==== Notes
 
 [[find-docs-null-values]]
-===== Find documents with null values
-To find documents that contain only `null` values or `[]` in a provided field,
+===== Find documents missing indexed values
+To find documents that are missing an indexed value for a field,
 use the `must_not` <<query-dsl-bool-query, boolean query>> with the `exists`
 query.
 
-The following search returns documents that contain only `null` values or `[]`
-in the `user` field.
+The following search returns documents that are missing an indexed value for
+the `user` field.
 
 [source,js]
 ----