diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
index 9c2ba63901fd..13e8d435ef37 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_base.py
@@ -4498,12 +4498,12 @@ def label_outer(self):
         labels are on the top side); y-labels only for subplots on the first
         column (or last column, if labels are on the right side).
         """
-        self._label_outer_xaxis(check_patch=False)
-        self._label_outer_yaxis(check_patch=False)
+        self._label_outer_xaxis(skip_non_rectangular_axes=False)
+        self._label_outer_yaxis(skip_non_rectangular_axes=False)
 
-    def _label_outer_xaxis(self, *, check_patch):
+    def _label_outer_xaxis(self, *, skip_non_rectangular_axes):
         # see documentation in label_outer.
-        if check_patch and not isinstance(self.patch, mpl.patches.Rectangle):
+        if skip_non_rectangular_axes and not isinstance(self.patch, mpl.patches.Rectangle):
             return
         ss = self.get_subplotspec()
         if not ss:
@@ -4522,9 +4522,9 @@ def _label_outer_xaxis(self, *, check_patch):
             if self.xaxis.offsetText.get_position()[1] == 0:
                 self.xaxis.offsetText.set_visible(False)
 
-    def _label_outer_yaxis(self, *, check_patch):
+    def _label_outer_yaxis(self, *, skip_non_rectangular_axes):
         # see documentation in label_outer.
-        if check_patch and not isinstance(self.patch, mpl.patches.Rectangle):
+        if skip_non_rectangular_axes and not isinstance(self.patch, mpl.patches.Rectangle):
             return
         ss = self.get_subplotspec()
         if not ss:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/gridspec.py b/lib/matplotlib/gridspec.py
index c86a527ef54a..b2f1b5d8ff2e 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/gridspec.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/gridspec.py
@@ -301,10 +301,10 @@ def subplots(self, *, sharex=False, sharey=False, squeeze=True,
         # turn off redundant tick labeling
         if sharex in ["col", "all"]:
             for ax in axarr.flat:
-                ax._label_outer_xaxis(check_patch=True)
+                ax._label_outer_xaxis(skip_non_rectangular_axes=True)
         if sharey in ["row", "all"]:
             for ax in axarr.flat:
-                ax._label_outer_yaxis(check_patch=True)
+                ax._label_outer_yaxis(skip_non_rectangular_axes=True)
 
         if squeeze:
             # Discarding unneeded dimensions that equal 1.  If we only have one