diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/arguments/optparse_helpers.py b/lib/ansible/cli/arguments/optparse_helpers.py
index bfac01e713..f133740cd7 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/arguments/optparse_helpers.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/arguments/optparse_helpers.py
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ def add_async_options(parser):
 def add_basedir_options(parser):
     """Add options for commands which can set a playbook basedir"""
     parser.add_option('--playbook-dir', default=None, dest='basedir', action='store',
-                      help="Since this tool does not use playbooks, use this as a subsitute playbook directory."
+                      help="Since this tool does not use playbooks, use this as a substitute playbook directory."
                            "This sets the relative path for many features including roles/ group_vars/ etc.")