diff --git a/agents.go b/agents.go
index cebbbae..f3c0665 100644
--- a/agents.go
+++ b/agents.go
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ type Agent struct {
 	Tags  []string `yaml:"tags"`
 	Notes string   `yaml:"notes,omitempty"`
 
+	// Description is a curated one-liner that replaces the repo's own GitHub
+	// description in the README and dashboard. Many upstream descriptions are
+	// empty, vague, or marketing copy that says nothing about what the tool is.
+	Description string `yaml:"description,omitempty"`
+
 	// Category is the retired single-select field that tags replaced. It is
 	// still parsed so a stale entry fails validation with a message naming
 	// the replacement, rather than being silently ignored.
diff --git a/docs/CONTRIBUTING.md b/docs/CONTRIBUTING.md
index c71a0b6..71b0180 100644
--- a/docs/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/docs/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -8,12 +8,13 @@ Edit [`data/agents.yml`](../data/agents.yml) and add an entry:
 agents:
   - owner: github-username-or-org
     repo: repository-name
+    description: Terminal coding agent that edits files and runs commands in your repo
     tags: [terminal, byo-model, interactive, community]
 ```
 
 Required fields: `owner`, `repo`, `tags`
 
-Optional fields: `notes` (for clarifications or caveats)
+Optional fields: `description` (curated one-liner), `notes` (for clarifications or caveats)
 
 ## Field Reference
 
@@ -22,8 +23,18 @@ Optional fields: `notes` (for clarifications or caveats)
 | `owner` | string | Yes | GitHub user or organization that owns the repo |
 | `repo` | string | Yes | Repository name on GitHub |
 | `tags` | list | Yes | Tags from the vocabulary below; at least one surface tag, at most one origin tag |
+| `description` | string | No | Curated one-line description shown instead of the repo's GitHub description; one line, no `\|`, at most 140 characters |
 | `notes` | string | No | Additional context or disclaimers |
 
+### Writing a description
+
+Say what the tool is (terminal agent, VS Code extension, editor, desktop app,
+self-hosted server) and the one trait that sets it apart, in one plain sentence
+with no trailing period. Base it on the repo's own README, like tags. Leave out
+marketing adjectives, emoji, star counts, and model version names, which go
+stale within months. Without a `description`, the README shows whatever the
+repo's GitHub description says, which is often empty or vague.
+
 ## Scope
 
 This list ranks **developer tools built around AI** — things a developer uses to
diff --git a/github.go b/github.go
index 5f6a040..a99c009 100644
--- a/github.go
+++ b/github.go
@@ -140,13 +140,18 @@ func fetchStats(token string, agents []Agent) ([]Stat, error) {
 			fmt.Printf("::warning::repo %s has no push in %d days — review against the maintenance criterion\n", canonicalKey, days)
 		}
 
+		desc := node.Description
+		if a.Description != "" {
+			desc = a.Description
+		}
+
 		stats = append(stats, Stat{
 			CanonicalKey:  canonicalKey,
 			Owner:         a.Owner,
 			Repo:          a.Repo,
 			Tags:          a.Tags,
 			Notes:         a.Notes,
-			Description:   node.Description,
+			Description:   desc,
 			Stars:         node.StargazerCount,
 			Language:      lang,
 			PushedAt:      node.PushedAt,
diff --git a/github_test.go b/github_test.go
index 7287702..33e0f67 100644
--- a/github_test.go
+++ b/github_test.go
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ func TestFetchStats_ChunkingHappyPath(t *testing.T) {
 	for i := range agents {
 		agents[i] = Agent{Owner: "org", Repo: fmt.Sprintf("repo%02d", i), Tags: []string{"terminal", "community"}}
 	}
+	// A curated description in agents.yml replaces the GitHub one.
+	agents[3].Description = "curated"
 
 	var requestCount int
 	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
@@ -114,6 +116,18 @@ func TestFetchStats_ChunkingHappyPath(t *testing.T) {
 	if !found {
 		t.Error("expected org/repo52 (second chunk) in results")
 	}
+	for _, s := range stats {
+		switch s.NameWithOwner {
+		case "org/repo03":
+			if s.Description != "curated" {
+				t.Errorf("org/repo03: expected curated description, got %q", s.Description)
+			}
+		case "org/repo04":
+			if s.Description != "desc 4" {
+				t.Errorf("org/repo04: expected GitHub description, got %q", s.Description)
+			}
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func TestFetchStats_MissingNodeNamesTheRepo(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/templates/readme.tmpl b/templates/readme.tmpl
index 4809156..9bb4f73 100644
--- a/templates/readme.tmpl
+++ b/templates/readme.tmpl
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ Add an agent to [`data/agents.yml`](data/agents.yml):
 agents:
   - owner: github-username-or-org
     repo: repository-name
+    description: Terminal coding agent that edits files and runs commands in your repo
     tags: [terminal, byo-model, interactive, community]
 ```
 
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ Apply a tag only when the repo's own README, docs, or topics back it up. See [`d
 
 Open a PR. The next daily run picks it up automatically.
 
-PRs are validated automatically by CI (`go run . -check`): owner/repo must be non-empty and look like a real GitHub slug, every tag must come from the vocabulary above with at least one surface tag and at most one origin tag, and duplicates (case-insensitive) are rejected.
+PRs are validated automatically by CI (`go run . -check`): owner/repo must be non-empty and look like a real GitHub slug, every tag must come from the vocabulary above with at least one surface tag and at most one origin tag, an optional `description` must be one line of at most 140 characters without `|`, and duplicates (case-insensitive) are rejected.
 
 ## License
 
diff --git a/validate.go b/validate.go
index e929386..7c44235 100644
--- a/validate.go
+++ b/validate.go
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ func validateAgents(agents []Agent) []string {
 			violations = append(violations, fmt.Sprintf("%s: category %q is no longer a field — replace it with tags, e.g. tags: [terminal, byo-model, interactive, community]", ref, a.Category))
 		}
 		violations = append(violations, validateTags(ref, a.Tags)...)
+		violations = append(violations, validateDescription(ref, a.Description)...)
 
 		key := strings.ToLower(a.Owner + "/" + a.Repo)
 		if first, dup := seen[key]; dup {
@@ -166,3 +167,25 @@ func validateTags(ref string, tags []string) []string {
 
 	return violations
 }
+
+// maxDescriptionLen keeps a curated description to one readable table line.
+const maxDescriptionLen = 140
+
+// validateDescription checks the optional curated description: one line,
+// bounded length, and no pipe, which would split the README table cell.
+func validateDescription(ref, desc string) []string {
+	var violations []string
+	if desc == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(desc) != desc {
+		violations = append(violations, fmt.Sprintf("%s: description has leading or trailing whitespace", ref))
+	}
+	if strings.ContainsAny(desc, "|\n\r") {
+		violations = append(violations, fmt.Sprintf("%s: description must be one line without '|'", ref))
+	}
+	if n := len([]rune(desc)); n > maxDescriptionLen {
+		violations = append(violations, fmt.Sprintf("%s: description is %d characters, max %d", ref, n, maxDescriptionLen))
+	}
+	return violations
+}
diff --git a/validate_test.go b/validate_test.go
index 950af01..b4e88ef 100644
--- a/validate_test.go
+++ b/validate_test.go
@@ -204,3 +204,29 @@ func anyContains(list []string, substr string) bool {
 	}
 	return false
 }
+
+func TestValidateAgents_Description(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name, desc, want string
+	}{
+		{"valid", "Terminal coding agent with multi-provider support", ""},
+		{"pipe", "CLI | agent", "without '|'"},
+		{"newline", "line one\nline two", "without '|'"},
+		{"padded", " padded", "leading or trailing whitespace"},
+		{"too long", strings.Repeat("x", maxDescriptionLen+1), "max 140"},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			violations := validateAgents([]Agent{{Owner: "o", Repo: "r", Tags: []string{"terminal"}, Description: tt.desc}})
+			if tt.want == "" {
+				if len(violations) != 0 {
+					t.Errorf("expected no violations, got %v", violations)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if !anyContains(violations, tt.want) {
+				t.Errorf("expected violation containing %q, got %v", tt.want, violations)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}