diff --git a/docs/topics/permissions.rst b/docs/topics/permissions.rst
index d3d21b47b..8d0dd39d4 100644
--- a/docs/topics/permissions.rst
+++ b/docs/topics/permissions.rst
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ The full set of available permission types is as follows:
 * **Add** - grants the ability to create new subpages underneath this page (provided the page model permits this - see :ref:`page_type_business_rules`), and to edit and delete pages owned by the current user. Published pages cannot be deleted unless the user also has 'publish' permission.
 * **Edit** - grants the ability to edit and delete this page, and any pages underneath it, regardless of ownership. A user with only 'edit' permission may not create new pages, only existing ones. Published pages cannot be deleted unless the user also has 'publish' permission.
 * **Publish** - grants the ability to publish and unpublish this page and/or its children. A user without publish permission cannot directly make changes that are visible to visitors of the website; instead, they must submit their changes for moderation (which will send a notification to users with publish permission). Publish permission is independent of edit permission; a user with only publish permission will not be able to make any edits of their own.
+* **Bulk delete** - allows a user to delete pages that have descendants, in a single operation. Without this permission, a user has to delete the descendant pages individually before deleting the parent. This is a safeguard against accidental deletion. This permission must be used in conjunction with 'add' / 'edit' permission, as it does not provide any deletion rights of its own; it only provides a 'shortcut' for the permissions the user has already. For example, a user with just 'add' and 'bulk delete' permissions will only be able to bulk-delete if all the affected pages are owned by that user, and are unpublished.
 * **Lock** - grants the ability to lock or unlock this page (and any pages underneath it) for editing, preventing users from making any further edits to it.