diff --git src/wp-includes/default-filters.php src/wp-includes/default-filters.php
index 9212e42..10450af 100644
--- src/wp-includes/default-filters.php
+++ src/wp-includes/default-filters.php
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ foreach ( array( 'single_post_title', 'single_cat_title', 'single_tag_title', 's
 }
 
 // Format text area for display.
-foreach ( array( 'term_description', 'get_the_author_description' ) as $filter ) {
+foreach ( array( 'term_description', 'get_the_author_description', 'get_the_post_type_archive_description' ) as $filter ) {
 	add_filter( $filter, 'wptexturize'      );
 	add_filter( $filter, 'convert_chars'    );
 	add_filter( $filter, 'wpautop'          );
diff --git src/wp-includes/general-template.php src/wp-includes/general-template.php
index 087f47a..7a4215c 100644
--- src/wp-includes/general-template.php
+++ src/wp-includes/general-template.php
@@ -1554,20 +1554,7 @@ function get_the_archive_description() {
 	if ( is_author() ) {
 		$description = get_the_author_meta( 'description' );
 	} elseif ( is_post_type_archive() ) {
-		$post_type = get_query_var( 'post_type' );
-
-		if ( is_array( $post_type ) ) {
-			$post_type = reset( $post_type );
-		}
-
-		$post_type_obj = get_post_type_object( $post_type );
-
-		// Check if a description is set.
-		if ( isset( $post_type_obj->description ) ) {
-			$description = $post_type_obj->description;
-		} else {
-			$description = '';
-		}
+		$description = get_the_post_type_archive_description();
 	} else {
 		$description = term_description();
 	}
@@ -1583,6 +1570,40 @@ function get_the_archive_description() {
 }
 
 /**
+ * Retrieves the post type archive description.
+ *
+ * @since 4.9.0
+ *
+ * @return string The post type archive description.
+ */
+function get_the_post_type_archive_description() {
+
+	$post_type = get_query_var( 'post_type' );
+
+	if ( is_array( $post_type ) ) {
+		$post_type = reset( $post_type );
+	}
+
+	$post_type_obj = get_post_type_object( $post_type );
+
+	// Check if a description is set.
+	if ( isset( $post_type_obj->description ) ) {
+		$description = $post_type_obj->description;
+	} else {
+		$description = '';
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Filters the post type archive description.
+	 *
+	 * @since 4.9.0
+	 *
+	 * @param string $description The post type archive description.
+	 */
+	return apply_filters( 'get_the_post_type_archive_description', $description );
+}
+
+/**
  * Retrieve archive link content based on predefined or custom code.
  *
  * The format can be one of four styles. The 'link' for head element, 'option'