diff --git a/change-notes/1.18/analysis-javascript.md b/change-notes/1.18/analysis-javascript.md
index d507351eaa0..a9df3d1e4ed 100644
--- a/change-notes/1.18/analysis-javascript.md
+++ b/change-notes/1.18/analysis-javascript.md
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 | Server-side URL redirect | More true-positive results | This rule now treats header names case-insensitively. |
 | Uncontrolled command line | More true-positive results | This rule now recognizes indirect command injection through `sh -c` and similar. |
 | Unused variable | Fewer results | This rule no longer flags class expressions that could be made anonymous. While technically true, these results are not interesting. |
+| Unused variable | Renamed | This rule has been renamed to "Unused variable, import, function or class" to reflect the fact that it flags different kinds of unused program elements. |
 
 ## Changes to QL libraries
 
diff --git a/javascript/ql/src/Declarations/UnusedVariable.qhelp b/javascript/ql/src/Declarations/UnusedVariable.qhelp
index 2fcdfd1b504..457e72362e4 100644
--- a/javascript/ql/src/Declarations/UnusedVariable.qhelp
+++ b/javascript/ql/src/Declarations/UnusedVariable.qhelp
@@ -7,11 +7,15 @@
 Unused local variables make code hard to read and understand. Any computation used to initialize
 an unused variable is wasted, which may lead to performance problems.
 </p>
+<p>
+Similarly, unused imports and unused functions or classes can be confusing. They may even be
+a symptom of a bug caused, for example, by an incomplete refactoring.
+</p>
 
 </overview>
 <recommendation>
 
-<p>Remove the unused variable.</p>
+<p>Remove the unused program element.</p>
 
 </recommendation>
 <example>
diff --git a/javascript/ql/src/Declarations/UnusedVariable.ql b/javascript/ql/src/Declarations/UnusedVariable.ql
index 013e46e95e8..093de8b4bf7 100644
--- a/javascript/ql/src/Declarations/UnusedVariable.ql
+++ b/javascript/ql/src/Declarations/UnusedVariable.ql
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 /**
- * @name Unused variable
- * @description Unused variables may be a symptom of a bug and should be examined carefully.
+ * @name Unused variable, import, function or class
+ * @description Unused variables, imports, functions or classes may be a symptom of a bug
+ *              and should be examined carefully.
  * @kind problem
  * @problem.severity recommendation
  * @id js/unused-local-variable