diff --git a/docs/additional-features/custom-validation.md b/docs/additional-features/custom-validation.md
index 8881498a7..23d45eee3 100644
--- a/docs/additional-features/custom-validation.md
+++ b/docs/additional-features/custom-validation.md
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ from extras.validators import CustomValidator
 class MyValidator(CustomValidator):
     def validate(self, instance):
         if instance.status == 'active' and not instance.description:
-            self.fail("Active sites must have a description set!", attr='status')
+            self.fail("Active sites must have a description set!", field='status')
 ```
 
 The `fail()` method may optionally specify a field with which to associate the supplied error message. If specified, the error message will appear to the user as associated with this field. If omitted, the error message will not be associated with any field.
diff --git a/netbox/extras/validators.py b/netbox/extras/validators.py
index 3417955df..a880ed127 100644
--- a/netbox/extras/validators.py
+++ b/netbox/extras/validators.py
@@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ class CustomValidator:
         """
         return
 
-    def fail(self, message, attr=None):
+    def fail(self, message, field=None):
         """
-        Raise a ValidationError exception. Associate the provided message with an attribute if specified.
+        Raise a ValidationError exception. Associate the provided message with a form/serializer field if specified.
         """
-        if attr is not None:
-            raise ValidationError({attr: message})
+        if field is not None:
+            raise ValidationError({field: message})
         raise ValidationError(message)