diff --git a/maven-plugin-annotations/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugins/annotations/Execute.java b/maven-plugin-annotations/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugins/annotations/Execute.java
index e08a7e638..1482d04e5 100644
--- a/maven-plugin-annotations/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugins/annotations/Execute.java
+++ b/maven-plugin-annotations/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugins/annotations/Execute.java
@@ -52,7 +52,10 @@
     String goal() default "";
 
     /**
-     * lifecycle id to fork.
+     * lifecycle id of the lifecycle that defines {@link #phase()}. Only valid in combination with {@link #phase()}. If
+     * not specified, Maven will use the lifecycle of the current build.
+     *
+     * @see <a href="https://maven.apache.org/maven-plugin-api/lifecycle-mappings.html">Lifecycle Mappings</a>
      * @return the lifecycle id
      */
     String lifecycle() default "";