diff --git a/types/index.d.ts b/types/index.d.ts
index b81e1917847..87a6632d48e 100644
--- a/types/index.d.ts
+++ b/types/index.d.ts
@@ -1881,7 +1881,7 @@ declare module 'mongoose' {
     polygon(path: string, ...coordinatePairs: number[][]): this;
 
     /** Specifies paths which should be populated with other documents. */
-    populate<Paths = {}>(path: string[], select?: string | any, model?: string | Model<any, THelpers>, match?: any): QueryWithHelpers<UnpackedIntersection<ResultType, Paths>, DocType, THelpers, RawDocType>;
+    populate<Paths = {}>(path: string | string[], select?: string | any, model?: string | Model<any, THelpers>, match?: any): QueryWithHelpers<UnpackedIntersection<ResultType, Paths>, DocType, THelpers, RawDocType>;
     populate<Paths = {}>(options: PopulateOptions | (PopulateOptions | string)[]): QueryWithHelpers<UnpackedIntersection<ResultType, Paths>, DocType, THelpers, RawDocType>;
 
     /** Get/set the current projection (AKA fields). Pass `null` to remove the current projection. */