diff --git a/include/linux/pinctrl/pinctrl-state.h b/include/linux/pinctrl/pinctrl-state.h
index 3920e28b4da7..634608dc6c89 100644
--- a/include/linux/pinctrl/pinctrl-state.h
+++ b/include/linux/pinctrl/pinctrl-state.h
@@ -2,5 +2,18 @@
  * Standard pin control state definitions
  */
 
+/**
+ * @PINCTRL_STATE_DEFAULT: the state the pinctrl handle shall be put
+ *	into as default, usually this means the pins are up and ready to
+ *	be used by the device driver. This state is commonly used by
+ *	hogs to configure muxing and pins at boot.
+ * @PINCTRL_STATE_IDLE: the state the pinctrl handle shall be put into
+ *	when the pins are idle. Could typically be set from a
+ *	pm_runtime_suspend() operation.
+ * @PINCTRL_STATE_SLEEP: the state the pinctrl handle shall be put into
+ *	when the pins are sleeping. Could typically be set from a
+ *	common suspend() function.
+ */
 #define PINCTRL_STATE_DEFAULT "default"
 #define PINCTRL_STATE_IDLE "idle"
+#define PINCTRL_STATE_SLEEP "sleep"