diff -u b/core/modules/migrate/src/Plugin/migrate/process/DefaultValue.php b/core/modules/migrate/src/Plugin/migrate/process/DefaultValue.php
--- b/core/modules/migrate/src/Plugin/migrate/process/DefaultValue.php
+++ b/core/modules/migrate/src/Plugin/migrate/process/DefaultValue.php
@@ -10,16 +10,16 @@
  * Sets a default value.
  *
  * The default_value process plugin provides the ability to set a fixed default
- * value. The plugin sets the pipeline to the default value if the pipeline has
- * no value (NULL, zero or empty string). The strict configuration key can be
- * used to set the default only when the pipeline value is NULL.
+ * value. The plugin returns a default value if the input value is considered
+ * empty (NULL, FALSE, 0, '0', an empty string, or an empty array). The strict
+ * configuration key can be used to set the default only when the incoming
+ * value is NULL.
  *
- * Available configuration keys
+ * Available configuration keys:
  *   - default_value: The fixed default value to apply.
  *   - strict: (optional) Use strict value checking. Defaults to false.
- *     - false = apply default when pipeline value is empty().
- *     - true = apply default when value is NULL.
- * Note that the pipeline starts with value NULL.
+ *     - false = Apply default when input value is empty().
+ *     - true = Apply default when input value is NULL.
  *
  * Example:
  *