diff --git a/plugins/modules/docker_container.py b/plugins/modules/docker_container.py
index 60768637..20cc88d9 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/docker_container.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/docker_container.py
@@ -340,6 +340,9 @@ options:
     description:
       - Dict of host-to-IP mappings, where each host name is a key in the dictionary.
         Each host name will be added to the container's C(/etc/hosts) file.
+      - Instead of an IP address, the special value V(host-gateway) can also be used, which
+        resolves to the host's gateway IP and allows containers to connect to services running
+        on the host.
     type: dict
   exposed_ports:
     description:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/docker_image.py b/plugins/modules/docker_image.py
index b229ad38..b5a98c97 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/docker_image.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/docker_image.py
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ options:
       etc_hosts:
         description:
           - Extra hosts to add to C(/etc/hosts) in building containers, as a mapping of hostname to IP address.
+          - Instead of an IP address, the special value V(host-gateway) can also be used, which
+            resolves to the host's gateway IP and allows building containers to connect to services running
+            on the host.
         type: dict
       args:
         description:
diff --git a/plugins/modules/docker_image_build.py b/plugins/modules/docker_image_build.py
index 48478b55..75f52f3c 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/docker_image_build.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/docker_image_build.py
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ options:
   etc_hosts:
     description:
       - Extra hosts to add to C(/etc/hosts) in building containers, as a mapping of hostname to IP address.
+      - Instead of an IP address, the special value V(host-gateway) can also be used, which
+        resolves to the host's gateway IP and allows building containers to connect to services running
+        on the host.
     type: dict
   args:
     description: