diff --git a/Lib/pydoc.py b/Lib/pydoc.py
index 7d52359c9a0..85eefa46b72 100755
--- a/Lib/pydoc.py
+++ b/Lib/pydoc.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ import sys
 import sysconfig
 import time
 import tokenize
+import types
 import urllib.parse
 import warnings
 from collections import deque
@@ -90,13 +91,16 @@ def pathdirs():
             normdirs.append(normdir)
     return dirs
 
+def _isclass(object):
+    return inspect.isclass(object) and not isinstance(object, types.GenericAlias)
+
 def _findclass(func):
     cls = sys.modules.get(func.__module__)
     if cls is None:
         return None
     for name in func.__qualname__.split('.')[:-1]:
         cls = getattr(cls, name)
-    if not inspect.isclass(cls):
+    if not _isclass(cls):
         return None
     return cls
 
@@ -104,7 +108,7 @@ def _finddoc(obj):
     if inspect.ismethod(obj):
         name = obj.__func__.__name__
         self = obj.__self__
-        if (inspect.isclass(self) and
+        if (_isclass(self) and
             getattr(getattr(self, name, None), '__func__') is obj.__func__):
             # classmethod
             cls = self
@@ -118,7 +122,7 @@ def _finddoc(obj):
     elif inspect.isbuiltin(obj):
         name = obj.__name__
         self = obj.__self__
-        if (inspect.isclass(self) and
+        if (_isclass(self) and
             self.__qualname__ + '.' + name == obj.__qualname__):
             # classmethod
             cls = self
@@ -205,7 +209,7 @@ def classname(object, modname):
 
 def isdata(object):
     """Check if an object is of a type that probably means it's data."""
-    return not (inspect.ismodule(object) or inspect.isclass(object) or
+    return not (inspect.ismodule(object) or _isclass(object) or
                 inspect.isroutine(object) or inspect.isframe(object) or
                 inspect.istraceback(object) or inspect.iscode(object))
 
@@ -470,7 +474,7 @@ class Doc:
         # by lacking a __name__ attribute) and an instance.
         try:
             if inspect.ismodule(object): return self.docmodule(*args)
-            if inspect.isclass(object): return self.docclass(*args)
+            if _isclass(object): return self.docclass(*args)
             if inspect.isroutine(object): return self.docroutine(*args)
         except AttributeError:
             pass
@@ -772,7 +776,7 @@ class HTMLDoc(Doc):
         modules = inspect.getmembers(object, inspect.ismodule)
 
         classes, cdict = [], {}
-        for key, value in inspect.getmembers(object, inspect.isclass):
+        for key, value in inspect.getmembers(object, _isclass):
             # if __all__ exists, believe it.  Otherwise use old heuristic.
             if (all is not None or
                 (inspect.getmodule(value) or object) is object):
@@ -1212,7 +1216,7 @@ location listed above.
             result = result + self.section('DESCRIPTION', desc)
 
         classes = []
-        for key, value in inspect.getmembers(object, inspect.isclass):
+        for key, value in inspect.getmembers(object, _isclass):
             # if __all__ exists, believe it.  Otherwise use old heuristic.
             if (all is not None
                 or (inspect.getmodule(value) or object) is object):
@@ -1696,7 +1700,7 @@ def describe(thing):
         return 'member descriptor %s.%s.%s' % (
             thing.__objclass__.__module__, thing.__objclass__.__name__,
             thing.__name__)
-    if inspect.isclass(thing):
+    if _isclass(thing):
         return 'class ' + thing.__name__
     if inspect.isfunction(thing):
         return 'function ' + thing.__name__
@@ -1757,7 +1761,7 @@ def render_doc(thing, title='Python Library Documentation: %s', forceload=0,
         desc += ' in module ' + module.__name__
 
     if not (inspect.ismodule(object) or
-              inspect.isclass(object) or
+              _isclass(object) or
               inspect.isroutine(object) or
               inspect.isdatadescriptor(object) or
               _getdoc(object)):
diff --git a/Lib/test/pydoc_mod.py b/Lib/test/pydoc_mod.py
index 9c1fff5c2f2..f9bc4b89d3d 100644
--- a/Lib/test/pydoc_mod.py
+++ b/Lib/test/pydoc_mod.py
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 """This is a test module for test_pydoc"""
 
+import types
+import typing
+
 __author__ = "Benjamin Peterson"
 __credits__ = "Nobody"
 __version__ = "1.2.3.4"
@@ -24,6 +27,8 @@ class C(object):
     def is_it_true(self):
         """ Return self.get_answer() """
         return self.get_answer()
+    def __class_getitem__(self, item):
+        return types.GenericAlias(self, item)
 
 def doc_func():
     """
@@ -35,3 +40,10 @@ def doc_func():
 
 def nodoc_func():
     pass
+
+
+list_alias1 = typing.List[int]
+list_alias2 = list[int]
+c_alias = C[int]
+type_union1 = typing.Union[int, str]
+type_union2 = int | str
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_pydoc.py b/Lib/test/test_pydoc.py
index 4f18af3f0ec..7cedf76fb3a 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_pydoc.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_pydoc.py
@@ -95,6 +95,11 @@ CLASSES
      |  say_no(self)
      |\x20\x20
      |  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+     |  Class methods defined here:
+     |\x20\x20
+     |  __class_getitem__(item) from builtins.type
+     |\x20\x20
+     |  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      |  Data descriptors defined here:
      |\x20\x20
      |  __dict__
@@ -114,6 +119,11 @@ FUNCTIONS
 
 DATA
     __xyz__ = 'X, Y and Z'
+    c_alias = test.pydoc_mod.C[int]
+    list_alias1 = typing.List[int]
+    list_alias2 = list[int]
+    type_union1 = typing.Union[int, str]
+    type_union2 = int | str
 
 VERSION
     1.2.3.4
@@ -135,6 +145,10 @@ html2text_of_expected = """
 test.pydoc_mod (version 1.2.3.4)
 This is a test module for test_pydoc
 
+Modules
+    types
+    typing
+
 Classes
     builtins.object
     A
@@ -172,6 +186,8 @@ class C(builtins.object)
         is_it_true(self)
             Return self.get_answer()
         say_no(self)
+    Class methods defined here:
+        __class_getitem__(item) from builtins.type
     Data descriptors defined here:
         __dict__
             dictionary for instance variables (if defined)
@@ -188,6 +204,11 @@ Functions
 
 Data
     __xyz__ = 'X, Y and Z'
+    c_alias = test.pydoc_mod.C[int]
+    list_alias1 = typing.List[int]
+    list_alias2 = list[int]
+    type_union1 = typing.Union[int, str]
+    type_union2 = int | str
 
 Author
     Benjamin Peterson
@@ -1000,6 +1021,43 @@ class TestDescriptions(unittest.TestCase):
         expected = 'C in module %s object' % __name__
         self.assertIn(expected, pydoc.render_doc(c))
 
+    def test_generic_alias(self):
+        self.assertEqual(pydoc.describe(typing.List[int]), '_GenericAlias')
+        doc = pydoc.render_doc(typing.List[int], renderer=pydoc.plaintext)
+        self.assertIn('_GenericAlias in module typing', doc)
+        self.assertIn('List = class list(object)', doc)
+        self.assertIn(list.__doc__.strip().splitlines()[0], doc)
+
+        self.assertEqual(pydoc.describe(list[int]), 'GenericAlias')
+        doc = pydoc.render_doc(list[int], renderer=pydoc.plaintext)
+        self.assertIn('GenericAlias in module builtins', doc)
+        self.assertIn('\nclass list(object)', doc)
+        self.assertIn(list.__doc__.strip().splitlines()[0], doc)
+
+    def test_union_type(self):
+        self.assertEqual(pydoc.describe(typing.Union[int, str]), '_UnionGenericAlias')
+        doc = pydoc.render_doc(typing.Union[int, str], renderer=pydoc.plaintext)
+        self.assertIn('_UnionGenericAlias in module typing', doc)
+        self.assertIn('Union = typing.Union', doc)
+        if typing.Union.__doc__:
+            self.assertIn(typing.Union.__doc__.strip().splitlines()[0], doc)
+
+        self.assertEqual(pydoc.describe(int | str), 'UnionType')
+        doc = pydoc.render_doc(int | str, renderer=pydoc.plaintext)
+        self.assertIn('UnionType in module types object', doc)
+        self.assertIn('\nclass UnionType(builtins.object)', doc)
+        self.assertIn(types.UnionType.__doc__.strip().splitlines()[0], doc)
+
+    def test_special_form(self):
+        self.assertEqual(pydoc.describe(typing.Any), '_SpecialForm')
+        doc = pydoc.render_doc(typing.Any, renderer=pydoc.plaintext)
+        self.assertIn('_SpecialForm in module typing', doc)
+        if typing.Any.__doc__:
+            self.assertIn('Any = typing.Any', doc)
+            self.assertIn(typing.Any.__doc__.strip().splitlines()[0], doc)
+        else:
+            self.assertIn('Any = class _SpecialForm(_Final)', doc)
+
     def test_typing_pydoc(self):
         def foo(data: typing.List[typing.Any],
                 x: int) -> typing.Iterator[typing.Tuple[int, typing.Any]]:
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2021-12-25-14-13-14.bpo-40296.p0YVGB.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2021-12-25-14-13-14.bpo-40296.p0YVGB.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ea469c916b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2021-12-25-14-13-14.bpo-40296.p0YVGB.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix supporting generic aliases in :mod:`pydoc`.