diff --git a/src/__fixtures__/schema-kitchen-sink.graphql b/src/__fixtures__/schema-kitchen-sink.graphql
index 477e25d474..8ec1f2d8a6 100644
--- a/src/__fixtures__/schema-kitchen-sink.graphql
+++ b/src/__fixtures__/schema-kitchen-sink.graphql
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+"""This is a description of the schema as a whole."""
 schema {
   query: QueryType
   mutation: MutationType
diff --git a/src/language/__tests__/schema-parser-test.js b/src/language/__tests__/schema-parser-test.js
index 1cce0c75ff..a9577d12da 100644
--- a/src/language/__tests__/schema-parser-test.js
+++ b/src/language/__tests__/schema-parser-test.js
@@ -141,6 +141,25 @@ describe('Schema Parser', () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it('parses schema with description string', () => {
+    const doc = parse(dedent`
+      "Description"
+      schema {
+        query: Foo
+      }
+    `);
+
+    expect(toJSONDeep(doc)).to.nested.deep.property(
+      'definitions[0].description',
+      {
+        kind: 'StringValue',
+        value: 'Description',
+        block: false,
+        loc: { start: 0, end: 13 },
+      },
+    );
+  });
+
   it('Description followed by something other than type system definition throws', () => {
     expectSyntaxError('"Description" 1').to.deep.equal({
       message: 'Syntax Error: Unexpected Int "1".',
diff --git a/src/language/__tests__/schema-printer-test.js b/src/language/__tests__/schema-printer-test.js
index aa9dc74184..c1cbbf9ea5 100644
--- a/src/language/__tests__/schema-printer-test.js
+++ b/src/language/__tests__/schema-printer-test.js
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ describe('Printer: SDL document', () => {
     const printed = print(parse(kitchenSinkSDL));
 
     expect(printed).to.equal(dedent`
+      """This is a description of the schema as a whole."""
       schema {
         query: QueryType
         mutation: MutationType
diff --git a/src/language/ast.d.ts b/src/language/ast.d.ts
index d83bdfcafe..576db47b6c 100644
--- a/src/language/ast.d.ts
+++ b/src/language/ast.d.ts
@@ -405,6 +405,7 @@ export type TypeSystemDefinitionNode =
 export interface SchemaDefinitionNode {
   readonly kind: 'SchemaDefinition';
   readonly loc?: Location;
+  readonly description?: StringValueNode;
   readonly directives?: ReadonlyArray<DirectiveNode>;
   readonly operationTypes: ReadonlyArray<OperationTypeDefinitionNode>;
 }
diff --git a/src/language/ast.js b/src/language/ast.js
index b38b5ffd76..9d5df64d86 100644
--- a/src/language/ast.js
+++ b/src/language/ast.js
@@ -441,6 +441,7 @@ export type TypeSystemDefinitionNode =
 export type SchemaDefinitionNode = {|
   +kind: 'SchemaDefinition',
   +loc?: Location,
+  +description?: StringValueNode,
   +directives?: $ReadOnlyArray<DirectiveNode>,
   +operationTypes: $ReadOnlyArray<OperationTypeDefinitionNode>,
 |};
diff --git a/src/language/parser.js b/src/language/parser.js
index c76d6b7c40..faf8ff039d 100644
--- a/src/language/parser.js
+++ b/src/language/parser.js
@@ -772,10 +772,11 @@ class Parser {
   }
 
   /**
-   * SchemaDefinition : schema Directives[Const]? { OperationTypeDefinition+ }
+   * SchemaDefinition : Description? schema Directives[Const]? { OperationTypeDefinition+ }
    */
   parseSchemaDefinition(): SchemaDefinitionNode {
     const start = this._lexer.token;
+    const description = this.parseDescription();
     this.expectKeyword('schema');
     const directives = this.parseDirectives(true);
     const operationTypes = this.many(
@@ -785,6 +786,7 @@ class Parser {
     );
     return {
       kind: Kind.SCHEMA_DEFINITION,
+      description,
       directives,
       operationTypes,
       loc: this.loc(start),
diff --git a/src/language/printer.js b/src/language/printer.js
index c66cbc0d96..71569529bd 100644
--- a/src/language/printer.js
+++ b/src/language/printer.js
@@ -106,8 +106,9 @@ const printDocASTReducer: any = {
 
   // Type System Definitions
 
-  SchemaDefinition: ({ directives, operationTypes }) =>
+  SchemaDefinition: addDescription(({ directives, operationTypes }) =>
     join(['schema', join(directives, ' '), block(operationTypes)], ' '),
+  ),
 
   OperationTypeDefinition: ({ operation, type }) => operation + ': ' + type,
 
diff --git a/src/language/visitor.d.ts b/src/language/visitor.d.ts
index ffe4a77807..d5b46182a6 100644
--- a/src/language/visitor.d.ts
+++ b/src/language/visitor.d.ts
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ export const QueryDocumentKeys: {
   ListType: ['type'];
   NonNullType: ['type'];
 
-  SchemaDefinition: ['directives', 'operationTypes'];
+  SchemaDefinition: ['description', 'directives', 'operationTypes'];
   OperationTypeDefinition: ['type'];
 
   ScalarTypeDefinition: ['description', 'name', 'directives'];
diff --git a/src/language/visitor.js b/src/language/visitor.js
index 68985d9c12..b5e2f85be7 100644
--- a/src/language/visitor.js
+++ b/src/language/visitor.js
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ export const QueryDocumentKeys: VisitorKeyMap<ASTKindToNode> = {
   ListType: ['type'],
   NonNullType: ['type'],
 
-  SchemaDefinition: ['directives', 'operationTypes'],
+  SchemaDefinition: ['description', 'directives', 'operationTypes'],
   OperationTypeDefinition: ['type'],
 
   ScalarTypeDefinition: ['description', 'name', 'directives'],
diff --git a/src/type/__tests__/introspection-test.js b/src/type/__tests__/introspection-test.js
index 57bc151e17..5c60e8a071 100644
--- a/src/type/__tests__/introspection-test.js
+++ b/src/type/__tests__/introspection-test.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import {
 describe('Introspection', () => {
   it('executes an introspection query', () => {
     const schema = new GraphQLSchema({
+      description: 'Sample schema',
       query: new GraphQLObjectType({
         name: 'QueryRoot',
         fields: {
@@ -85,6 +86,17 @@ describe('Introspection', () => {
               kind: 'OBJECT',
               name: '__Schema',
               fields: [
+                {
+                  name: 'description',
+                  args: [],
+                  type: {
+                    kind: 'SCALAR',
+                    name: 'String',
+                    ofType: null,
+                  },
+                  isDeprecated: false,
+                  deprecationReason: null,
+                },
                 {
                   name: 'types',
                   args: [],
@@ -1304,6 +1316,10 @@ describe('Introspection', () => {
           description:
             'A GraphQL Schema defines the capabilities of a GraphQL server. It exposes all available types and directives on the server, as well as the entry points for query, mutation, and subscription operations.',
           fields: [
+            {
+              name: 'description',
+              description: null,
+            },
             {
               name: 'types',
               description: 'A list of all types supported by this server.',
diff --git a/src/type/__tests__/schema-test.js b/src/type/__tests__/schema-test.js
index 570ff2bd1e..b0ea3152d7 100644
--- a/src/type/__tests__/schema-test.js
+++ b/src/type/__tests__/schema-test.js
@@ -86,12 +86,20 @@ describe('Type System: Schema', () => {
     });
 
     const schema = new GraphQLSchema({
+      description: 'Sample schema',
       query: BlogQuery,
       mutation: BlogMutation,
       subscription: BlogSubscription,
     });
 
     expect(printSchema(schema)).to.equal(dedent`
+      """Sample schema"""
+      schema {
+        query: Query
+        mutation: Mutation
+        subscription: Subscription
+      }
+
       type Query {
         article(id: String): Article
         feed: [Article]
diff --git a/src/type/introspection.js b/src/type/introspection.js
index 2594b47d3b..043685475f 100644
--- a/src/type/introspection.js
+++ b/src/type/introspection.js
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ export const __Schema = new GraphQLObjectType({
     'A GraphQL Schema defines the capabilities of a GraphQL server. It exposes all available types and directives on the server, as well as the entry points for query, mutation, and subscription operations.',
   fields: () =>
     ({
+      description: {
+        type: GraphQLString,
+        resolve: schema => schema.description,
+      },
       types: {
         description: 'A list of all types supported by this server.',
         type: GraphQLNonNull(GraphQLList(GraphQLNonNull(__Type))),
diff --git a/src/type/schema.d.ts b/src/type/schema.d.ts
index c603fd4c41..be2cfb4e38 100644
--- a/src/type/schema.d.ts
+++ b/src/type/schema.d.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ export function assertSchema(schema: any): GraphQLSchema;
  *
  */
 export class GraphQLSchema {
+  description: Maybe<string>;
   extensions: Maybe<Readonly<Record<string, any>>>;
   astNode: Maybe<SchemaDefinitionNode>;
   extensionASTNodes: Maybe<ReadonlyArray<SchemaExtensionNode>>;
@@ -104,6 +105,7 @@ export interface GraphQLSchemaValidationOptions {
 }
 
 export interface GraphQLSchemaConfig extends GraphQLSchemaValidationOptions {
+  description?: Maybe<string>;
   query: Maybe<GraphQLObjectType>;
   mutation?: Maybe<GraphQLObjectType>;
   subscription?: Maybe<GraphQLObjectType>;
@@ -118,6 +120,7 @@ export interface GraphQLSchemaConfig extends GraphQLSchemaValidationOptions {
  * @internal
  */
 export interface GraphQLSchemaNormalizedConfig extends GraphQLSchemaConfig {
+  description: Maybe<string>;
   types: Array<GraphQLNamedType>;
   directives: Array<GraphQLDirective>;
   extensions: Maybe<Readonly<Record<string, any>>>;
diff --git a/src/type/schema.js b/src/type/schema.js
index 891f942bf7..330d7f716b 100644
--- a/src/type/schema.js
+++ b/src/type/schema.js
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ export function assertSchema(schema: mixed): GraphQLSchema {
  *
  */
 export class GraphQLSchema {
+  description: ?string;
   extensions: ?ReadOnlyObjMap<mixed>;
   astNode: ?SchemaDefinitionNode;
   extensionASTNodes: ?$ReadOnlyArray<SchemaExtensionNode>;
@@ -157,6 +158,7 @@ export class GraphQLSchema {
         `${inspect(config.directives)}.`,
     );
 
+    this.description = config.description;
     this.extensions = config.extensions && toObjMap(config.extensions);
     this.astNode = config.astNode;
     this.extensionASTNodes = config.extensionASTNodes;
@@ -335,6 +337,7 @@ export class GraphQLSchema {
 
   toConfig(): GraphQLSchemaNormalizedConfig {
     return {
+      description: this.description,
       query: this.getQueryType(),
       mutation: this.getMutationType(),
       subscription: this.getSubscriptionType(),
@@ -367,6 +370,7 @@ export type GraphQLSchemaValidationOptions = {|
 |};
 
 export type GraphQLSchemaConfig = {|
+  description?: ?string,
   query?: ?GraphQLObjectType,
   mutation?: ?GraphQLObjectType,
   subscription?: ?GraphQLObjectType,
@@ -383,6 +387,7 @@ export type GraphQLSchemaConfig = {|
  */
 export type GraphQLSchemaNormalizedConfig = {|
   ...GraphQLSchemaConfig,
+  description: ?string,
   types: Array<GraphQLNamedType>,
   directives: Array<GraphQLDirective>,
   extensions: ?ReadOnlyObjMap<mixed>,
diff --git a/src/utilities/__tests__/buildASTSchema-test.js b/src/utilities/__tests__/buildASTSchema-test.js
index e4ea5a80b6..2d78eb0c33 100644
--- a/src/utilities/__tests__/buildASTSchema-test.js
+++ b/src/utilities/__tests__/buildASTSchema-test.js
@@ -158,6 +158,11 @@ describe('Schema Builder', () => {
 
   it('Supports descriptions', () => {
     const sdl = dedent`
+      """Do you agree that this is the most creative schema ever?"""
+      schema {
+        query: Query
+      }
+
       """This is a directive"""
       directive @foo(
         """It has an argument"""
diff --git a/src/utilities/__tests__/buildClientSchema-test.js b/src/utilities/__tests__/buildClientSchema-test.js
index e0d03922df..a6831ba359 100644
--- a/src/utilities/__tests__/buildClientSchema-test.js
+++ b/src/utilities/__tests__/buildClientSchema-test.js
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ function cycleIntrospection(sdlString: string): string {
 describe('Type System: build schema from introspection', () => {
   it('builds a simple schema', () => {
     const sdl = dedent`
+      """Simple schema"""
       schema {
         query: Simple
       }
diff --git a/src/utilities/__tests__/getIntrospectionQuery-test.js b/src/utilities/__tests__/getIntrospectionQuery-test.js
index ac382e5a18..e25a906e19 100644
--- a/src/utilities/__tests__/getIntrospectionQuery-test.js
+++ b/src/utilities/__tests__/getIntrospectionQuery-test.js
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ describe('getIntrospectionQuery', () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it('include "isRepeatable" field', () => {
+  it('include "isRepeatable" field on directives', () => {
     expect(getIntrospectionQuery()).to.not.match(/\bisRepeatable\b/);
 
     expect(getIntrospectionQuery({ directiveIsRepeatable: true })).to.match(
@@ -29,4 +29,26 @@ describe('getIntrospectionQuery', () => {
       getIntrospectionQuery({ directiveIsRepeatable: false }),
     ).to.not.match(/\bisRepeatable\b/);
   });
+
+  it('include "description" field on schema', () => {
+    expect(getIntrospectionQuery().match(/\bdescription\b/g)).to.have.lengthOf(
+      5,
+    );
+
+    expect(
+      getIntrospectionQuery({ schemaDescription: false }).match(
+        /\bdescription\b/g,
+      ),
+    ).to.have.lengthOf(5);
+
+    expect(
+      getIntrospectionQuery({ schemaDescription: true }).match(
+        /\bdescription\b/g,
+      ),
+    ).to.have.lengthOf(6);
+
+    expect(
+      getIntrospectionQuery({ descriptions: false, schemaDescription: true }),
+    ).to.not.match(/\bdescription\b/);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/utilities/__tests__/schemaPrinter-test.js b/src/utilities/__tests__/schemaPrinter-test.js
index c636a6439d..ed7badbbca 100644
--- a/src/utilities/__tests__/schemaPrinter-test.js
+++ b/src/utilities/__tests__/schemaPrinter-test.js
@@ -256,6 +256,23 @@ describe('Type System Printer', () => {
     `);
   });
 
+  it('Prints schema with description', () => {
+    const Schema = new GraphQLSchema({
+      description: 'Schema description.',
+      query: new GraphQLObjectType({ name: 'Query', fields: {} }),
+    });
+
+    const output = printForTest(Schema);
+    expect(output).to.equal(dedent`
+      """Schema description."""
+      schema {
+        query: Query
+      }
+
+      type Query
+    `);
+  });
+
   it('Prints custom query root types', () => {
     const Schema = new GraphQLSchema({
       query: new GraphQLObjectType({ name: 'CustomType', fields: {} }),
@@ -626,6 +643,8 @@ describe('Type System Printer', () => {
       A GraphQL Schema defines the capabilities of a GraphQL server. It exposes all available types and directives on the server, as well as the entry points for query, mutation, and subscription operations.
       """
       type __Schema {
+        description: String
+
         """A list of all types supported by this server."""
         types: [__Type!]!
 
@@ -836,6 +855,8 @@ describe('Type System Printer', () => {
 
       # A GraphQL Schema defines the capabilities of a GraphQL server. It exposes all available types and directives on the server, as well as the entry points for query, mutation, and subscription operations.
       type __Schema {
+        description: String
+
         # A list of all types supported by this server.
         types: [__Type!]!
 
diff --git a/src/utilities/buildClientSchema.js b/src/utilities/buildClientSchema.js
index 68b6f512d3..788d602ad8 100644
--- a/src/utilities/buildClientSchema.js
+++ b/src/utilities/buildClientSchema.js
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ export function buildClientSchema(
 
   // Then produce and return a Schema with these types.
   return new GraphQLSchema({
+    description: schemaIntrospection.description,
     query: queryType,
     mutation: mutationType,
     subscription: subscriptionType,
diff --git a/src/utilities/extendSchema.js b/src/utilities/extendSchema.js
index 69ac1f84ee..be93160dc2 100644
--- a/src/utilities/extendSchema.js
+++ b/src/utilities/extendSchema.js
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ export function extendSchemaImpl(
 
   // Then produce and return a Schema config with these types.
   return {
+    description: schemaDef?.description?.value,
     ...operationTypes,
     types: objectValues(typeMap),
     directives: [
diff --git a/src/utilities/getIntrospectionQuery.js b/src/utilities/getIntrospectionQuery.js
index b5636c8421..8f79aace3b 100644
--- a/src/utilities/getIntrospectionQuery.js
+++ b/src/utilities/getIntrospectionQuery.js
@@ -7,15 +7,20 @@ export type IntrospectionOptions = {|
   // Default: true
   descriptions?: boolean,
 
-  // Whether to include `isRepeatable` flag on directives.
+  // Whether to include `isRepeatable` field on directives.
   // Default: false
   directiveIsRepeatable?: boolean,
+
+  // Whether to include `description` field on schema.
+  // Default: false
+  schemaDescription?: boolean,
 |};
 
 export function getIntrospectionQuery(options?: IntrospectionOptions): string {
   const optionsWithDefault = {
     descriptions: true,
     directiveIsRepeatable: false,
+    schemaDescription: false,
     ...options,
   };
 
@@ -23,10 +28,14 @@ export function getIntrospectionQuery(options?: IntrospectionOptions): string {
   const directiveIsRepeatable = optionsWithDefault.directiveIsRepeatable
     ? 'isRepeatable'
     : '';
+  const schemaDescription = optionsWithDefault.schemaDescription
+    ? descriptions
+    : '';
 
   return `
     query IntrospectionQuery {
       __schema {
+        ${schemaDescription}
         queryType { name }
         mutationType { name }
         subscriptionType { name }
@@ -125,6 +134,7 @@ export type IntrospectionQuery = {|
 |};
 
 export type IntrospectionSchema = {|
+  +description?: ?string,
   +queryType: IntrospectionNamedTypeRef<IntrospectionObjectType>,
   +mutationType: ?IntrospectionNamedTypeRef<IntrospectionObjectType>,
   +subscriptionType: ?IntrospectionNamedTypeRef<IntrospectionObjectType>,
diff --git a/src/utilities/introspectionFromSchema.js b/src/utilities/introspectionFromSchema.js
index 9668e8c5fe..7fe8dd60e1 100644
--- a/src/utilities/introspectionFromSchema.js
+++ b/src/utilities/introspectionFromSchema.js
@@ -26,7 +26,12 @@ export function introspectionFromSchema(
   schema: GraphQLSchema,
   options?: IntrospectionOptions,
 ): IntrospectionQuery {
-  const optionsWithDefaults = { directiveIsRepeatable: true, ...options };
+  const optionsWithDefaults = {
+    directiveIsRepeatable: true,
+    schemaDescription: true,
+    ...options,
+  };
+
   const document = parse(getIntrospectionQuery(optionsWithDefaults));
   const result = execute({ schema, document });
   invariant(!isPromise(result) && !result.errors && result.data);
diff --git a/src/utilities/schemaPrinter.js b/src/utilities/schemaPrinter.js
index 6e26d4653d..674d5b26a5 100644
--- a/src/utilities/schemaPrinter.js
+++ b/src/utilities/schemaPrinter.js
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ function printFilteredSchema(
 }
 
 function printSchemaDefinition(schema: GraphQLSchema): ?string {
-  if (isSchemaOfCommonNames(schema)) {
+  if (schema.description == null && isSchemaOfCommonNames(schema)) {
     return;
   }
 
@@ -120,7 +120,9 @@ function printSchemaDefinition(schema: GraphQLSchema): ?string {
     operationTypes.push(`  subscription: ${subscriptionType.name}`);
   }
 
-  return `schema {\n${operationTypes.join('\n')}\n}`;
+  return (
+    printDescription({}, schema) + `schema {\n${operationTypes.join('\n')}\n}`
+  );
 }
 
 /**