diff --git a/docs/modules/index.ts.md b/docs/modules/index.ts.md
index 8f9717b..407d09b 100644
--- a/docs/modules/index.ts.md
+++ b/docs/modules/index.ts.md
@@ -831,12 +831,8 @@ export function printStatic(node: Node, i: number = 0): string { ... }
 **Signature**
 
 ```ts
-export function property(
-  key: string,
-  type: TypeReference,
-  isOptional: boolean = false,
-  description?: string
-): Property { ... }
+export function property(key: string, type: TypeReference, description?: string): Property
+export function property(key: string, type: TypeReference, isOptional?: boolean, description?: string): Property { ... }
 ```
 
 # readonlyArrayCombinator (function)
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 0ebb22a..c6369a8 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -301,12 +301,23 @@ export function identifier(name: string): Identifier {
   }
 }
 
+export function property(key: string, type: TypeReference, description?: string): Property
+export function property(key: string, type: TypeReference, isOptional?: boolean, description?: string): Property
 export function property(
   key: string,
   type: TypeReference,
-  isOptional: boolean = false,
+  isOptional: boolean | string = false,
   description?: string
 ): Property {
+  if (typeof isOptional === 'string') {
+    return {
+      kind: 'Property',
+      key,
+      type,
+      isOptional: false,
+      description: isOptional // actually description from the overloaded signature
+    }
+  }
   return {
     kind: 'Property',
     key,
diff --git a/test/property.ts b/test/property.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c2ab562
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/property.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import * as assert from 'assert'
+import * as t from '../src'
+
+describe('property overload', () => {
+  it('should be the same without description', () => {
+    const longForm = t.typeCombinator([t.property('foo', t.stringType, false)])
+    const shortForm = t.typeCombinator([t.property('foo', t.stringType)])
+
+    assert.deepEqual(shortForm, longForm)
+  })
+
+  it('should be the same with description', () => {
+    const longForm = t.typeCombinator([t.property('foo', t.stringType, false, 'test')])
+    const shortForm = t.typeCombinator([t.property('foo', t.stringType, 'test')])
+
+    assert.deepEqual(shortForm, longForm)
+  })
+})