diff --git a/docs/content/manual/dev/manual.yml b/docs/content/manual/dev/manual.yml
index e7150c41..27ab1fc8 100644
--- a/docs/content/manual/dev/manual.yml
+++ b/docs/content/manual/dev/manual.yml
@@ -3072,6 +3072,16 @@ sections:
           to be evaluated once per value in the value of `.` at the call
           site.
 
+          Multiple arguments are separated by semicolons, both in the
+          definition and in the call:
+
+              def f(a; b): ...;
+              f(.x; .y)
+
+          A comma does not separate arguments.  `f(.x, .y)` calls a
+          one-argument `f` with the single filter `.x, .y`, which
+          outputs `.x` and then `.y` (see the comma operator above).
+
           Multiple definitions using the same function name are allowed.
           Each re-definition replaces the previous one for the same
           number of function arguments, but only for references from
@@ -3085,6 +3095,12 @@ sections:
           - program: 'def addvalue(f): f as $x | map(. + $x); addvalue(.[0])'
             input: '[[1,2],[10,20]]'
             output: ['[[1,2,1,2], [10,20,1,2]]']
+          - program: 'def f(a; b): [a, b]; f(.x; .y)'
+            input: '{"x":1,"y":2}'
+            output: ['[1,2]']
+          - program: 'def f(a): [a]; f(.x, .y)'
+            input: '{"x":1,"y":2}'
+            output: ['[1,2]']
 
       - title: 'Scoping'
         body: |
diff --git a/jq.1.prebuilt b/jq.1.prebuilt
index be0b8fab..2c47856b 100644
--- a/jq.1.prebuilt
+++ b/jq.1.prebuilt
@@ -3522,6 +3522,23 @@ def addvalue($f): \.\.\.;
 With either definition, \fBaddvalue(\.foo)\fR will add the current input\'s \fB\.foo\fR field to each element of the array\. Do note that calling \fBaddvalue(\.[])\fR will cause the \fBmap(\. + $f)\fR part to be evaluated once per value in the value of \fB\.\fR at the call site\.
 .
 .P
+Multiple arguments are separated by semicolons, both in the definition and in the call:
+.
+.IP "" 4
+.
+.nf
+
+def f(a; b): \.\.\.;
+f(\.x; \.y)
+.
+.fi
+.
+.IP "" 0
+.
+.P
+A comma does not separate arguments\. \fBf(\.x, \.y)\fR calls a one\-argument \fBf\fR with the single filter \fB\.x, \.y\fR, which outputs \fB\.x\fR and then \fB\.y\fR (see the comma operator above)\.
+.
+.P
 Multiple definitions using the same function name are allowed\. Each re\-definition replaces the previous one for the same number of function arguments, but only for references from functions (or main program) subsequent to the re\-definition\. See also the section below on scoping\.
 .
 .IP "" 4
@@ -3535,6 +3552,14 @@ jq \'def addvalue(f): \. + [f]; map(addvalue(\.[0]))\'
 jq \'def addvalue(f): f as $x | map(\. + $x); addvalue(\.[0])\'
    [[1,2],[10,20]]
 => [[1,2,1,2], [10,20,1,2]]
+
+jq \'def f(a; b): [a, b]; f(\.x; \.y)\'
+   {"x":1,"y":2}
+=> [1,2]
+
+jq \'def f(a): [a]; f(\.x, \.y)\'
+   {"x":1,"y":2}
+=> [1,2]
 .
 .fi
 .
diff --git a/tests/man.test b/tests/man.test
index 86243105..e2b3b064 100644
--- a/tests/man.test
+++ b/tests/man.test
@@ -888,6 +888,14 @@ def addvalue(f): f as $x | map(. + $x); addvalue(.[0])
 [[1,2],[10,20]]
 [[1,2,1,2], [10,20,1,2]]
 
+def f(a; b): [a, b]; f(.x; .y)
+{"x":1,"y":2}
+[1,2]
+
+def f(a): [a]; f(.x, .y)
+{"x":1,"y":2}
+[1,2]
+
 isempty(empty)
 null
 true