diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/host_list.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/host_list.py
index f89c9011e8f..0983e37dddc 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/host_list.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/inventory/host_list.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ EXAMPLES: |
     ansible -i '10.10.2.6, 10.10.2.4' -m ping all
 
     # DNS resolvable names
-    ansible -i 'host1.example.com, host2' -m user -a 'name=me state=abset' all
+    ansible -i 'host1.example.com, host2' -m user -a 'name=me state=absent' all
 
     # just use localhost
     ansible-playbook -i 'localhost,' play.yml -c local