diff --git a/cli/command/container/exec.go b/cli/command/container/exec.go
index 3e78d8e506..9259e53d84 100644
--- a/cli/command/container/exec.go
+++ b/cli/command/container/exec.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func NewExecCommand(dockerCli command.Cli) *cobra.Command {
 
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "exec [OPTIONS] CONTAINER COMMAND [ARG...]",
-		Short: "Run a command in a running container",
+		Short: "Execute a command in a running container",
 		Args:  cli.RequiresMinArgs(2),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			options.Container = args[0]
diff --git a/contrib/completion/fish/docker.fish b/contrib/completion/fish/docker.fish
index eb3ddcc676..639f5cabd4 100644
--- a/contrib/completion/fish/docker.fish
+++ b/contrib/completion/fish/docker.fish
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ complete -c docker -A -f -n '__fish_seen_subcommand_from events' -l since -d 'Sh
 complete -c docker -A -f -n '__fish_seen_subcommand_from events' -l until -d 'Stream events until this timestamp'
 
 # exec
-complete -c docker -f -n '__fish_docker_no_subcommand' -a exec -d 'Run a command in a running container'
+complete -c docker -f -n '__fish_docker_no_subcommand' -a exec -d 'Execute a command in a running container'
 complete -c docker -A -f -n '__fish_seen_subcommand_from exec' -s d -l detach -d 'Detached mode: run command in the background'
 complete -c docker -A -f -n '__fish_seen_subcommand_from exec' -l detach-keys -d 'Override the key sequence for detaching a container'
 complete -c docker -A -f -n '__fish_seen_subcommand_from exec' -s e -l env -d 'Set environment variables'
diff --git a/contrib/completion/zsh/_docker b/contrib/completion/zsh/_docker
index 67381a1fe4..932bc5f502 100644
--- a/contrib/completion/zsh/_docker
+++ b/contrib/completion/zsh/_docker
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ __docker_container_commands() {
         "cp:Copy files/folders between a container and the local filesystem"
         "create:Create a new container"
         "diff:Inspect changes on a container's filesystem"
-        "exec:Run a command in a running container"
+        "exec:Execute a command in a running container"
         "export:Export a container's filesystem as a tar archive"
         "inspect:Display detailed information on one or more containers"
         "kill:Kill one or more running containers"
diff --git a/docs/reference/commandline/container.md b/docs/reference/commandline/container.md
index 5425e0f6e7..abec5b98bd 100644
--- a/docs/reference/commandline/container.md
+++ b/docs/reference/commandline/container.md
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Commands:
   cp          Copy files/folders between a container and the local filesystem
   create      Create a new container
   diff        Inspect changes to files or directories on a container's filesystem
-  exec        Run a command in a running container
+  exec        Execute a command in a running container
   export      Export a container's filesystem as a tar archive
   inspect     Display detailed information on one or more containers
   kill        Kill one or more running containers
diff --git a/docs/reference/commandline/exec.md b/docs/reference/commandline/exec.md
index 1786618025..d43b42ffef 100644
--- a/docs/reference/commandline/exec.md
+++ b/docs/reference/commandline/exec.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ keywords: "command, container, run, execute"
 ```markdown
 Usage:  docker exec [OPTIONS] CONTAINER COMMAND [ARG...]
 
-Run a command in a running container
+Execute a command in a running container
 
 Options:
   -d, --detach         Detached mode: run command in the background
diff --git a/docs/reference/commandline/index.md b/docs/reference/commandline/index.md
index 51bce7a458..1c9ea31111 100644
--- a/docs/reference/commandline/index.md
+++ b/docs/reference/commandline/index.md
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ read the [`dockerd`](dockerd.md) reference page.
 | [create](create.md)                   | Create a new container                                           |
 | [diff](diff.md)                       | Inspect changes on a container's filesystem                      |
 | [events](events.md)                   | Get real time events from the server                             |
-| [exec](exec.md)                       | Run a command in a running container                             |
+| [exec](exec.md)                       | Execute a command in a running container                         |
 | [export](export.md)                   | Export a container's filesystem as a tar archive                 |
 | [kill](kill.md)                       | Kill a running container                                         |
 | [logs](logs.md)                       | Fetch the logs of a container                                    |