diff --git a/lib/document.js b/lib/document.js
index 73e2fdedbb6..1a6e7be05f5 100644
--- a/lib/document.js
+++ b/lib/document.js
@@ -4655,7 +4655,7 @@ Document.prototype.getChanges = function() {
  * Returns a copy of this document with a deep clone of `_doc` and `$__`.
  *
  * @return {Document} a copy of this document
- * @api private
+ * @api public
  * @method $clone
  * @memberOf Document
  * @instance
diff --git a/types/document.d.ts b/types/document.d.ts
index 0d8f085def3..f43db5c34c8 100644
--- a/types/document.d.ts
+++ b/types/document.d.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ declare module 'mongoose' {
     /** Assert that a given path or paths is populated. Throws an error if not populated. */
     $assertPopulated<Paths = {}>(path: string | string[], values?: Partial<Paths>): Omit<this, keyof Paths> & Paths;
 
+    /** Returns a deep clone of this document */
+    $clone(): this;
+
     /* Get all subdocs (by bfs) */
     $getAllSubdocs(): Document[];