diff --git a/doc/api/cli.md b/doc/api/cli.md
index f56eb981a986e4..79f2dcd2ba4596 100644
--- a/doc/api/cli.md
+++ b/doc/api/cli.md
@@ -134,19 +134,6 @@ added: v6.0.0
 Enable FIPS-compliant crypto at startup. (Requires Node.js to be built with
 `./configure --openssl-fips`.)
 
-### `--entry-type=type`
-<!-- YAML
-added: REPLACEME
--->
-
-Used with `--experimental-modules`, this configures Node.js to interpret the
-initial entry point as CommonJS or as an ES module.
-
-Valid values are `"commonjs"` and `"module"`. The default is to infer from
-the file extension and the `"type"` field in the nearest parent `package.json`.
-
-Works for executing a file as well as `--eval`, `--print`, `STDIN`.
-
 ### `--es-module-specifier-resolution=mode`
 <!-- YAML
 added: REPLACEME
@@ -261,6 +248,17 @@ added: v0.11.15
 
 Specify ICU data load path. (Overrides `NODE_ICU_DATA`.)
 
+### `--input-type=type`
+<!-- YAML
+added: REPLACEME
+-->
+
+Used with `--experimental-modules`, this configures Node.js to interpret string
+input as CommonJS or as an ES module. String input is input via `--eval`,
+`--print`, or `STDIN`.
+
+Valid values are `"commonjs"` and `"module"`. The default is `"commonjs"`.
+
 ### `--inspect-brk[=[host:]port]`
 <!-- YAML
 added: v7.6.0
diff --git a/doc/api/errors.md b/doc/api/errors.md
index e984487820220c..097b0208f7343e 100644
--- a/doc/api/errors.md
+++ b/doc/api/errors.md
@@ -854,18 +854,6 @@ provided.
 Encoding provided to `TextDecoder()` API was not one of the
 [WHATWG Supported Encodings][].
 
-<a id="ERR_ENTRY_TYPE_MISMATCH"></a>
-#### ERR_ENTRY_TYPE_MISMATCH
-
-> Stability: 1 - Experimental
-
-The `--entry-type=commonjs` flag was used to attempt to execute an `.mjs` file
-or a `.js` file where the nearest parent `package.json` contains
-`"type": "module"`; or
-the `--entry-type=module` flag was used to attempt to execute a `.cjs` file or
-a `.js` file where the nearest parent `package.json` either lacks a `"type"`
-field or contains `"type": "commonjs"`.
-
 <a id="ERR_FALSY_VALUE_REJECTION"></a>
 ### ERR_FALSY_VALUE_REJECTION
 
@@ -1166,6 +1154,14 @@ is set for the `Http2Stream`.
 An option pair is incompatible with each other and can not be used at the same
 time.
 
+<a id="ERR_INPUT_TYPE_NOT_ALLOWED"></a>
+### ERR_INPUT_TYPE_NOT_ALLOWED
+
+> Stability: 1 - Experimental
+
+The `--input-type` flag was used to attempt to execute a file. This flag can
+only be used with input via `--eval`, `--print` or `STDIN`.
+
 <a id="ERR_INSPECTOR_ALREADY_CONNECTED"></a>
 ### ERR_INSPECTOR_ALREADY_CONNECTED
 
@@ -2223,6 +2219,18 @@ closed.
 These errors have never been released, but had been present on master between
 releases.
 
+<a id="ERR_ENTRY_TYPE_MISMATCH"></a>
+#### ERR_ENTRY_TYPE_MISMATCH
+
+> Stability: 1 - Experimental
+
+The `--entry-type=commonjs` flag was used to attempt to execute an `.mjs` file
+or a `.js` file where the nearest parent `package.json` contains
+`"type": "module"`; or
+the `--entry-type=module` flag was used to attempt to execute a `.cjs` file or
+a `.js` file where the nearest parent `package.json` either lacks a `"type"`
+field or contains `"type": "commonjs"`.
+
 <a id="ERR_FS_WATCHER_ALREADY_STARTED"></a>
 #### ERR_FS_WATCHER_ALREADY_STARTED
 
diff --git a/doc/api/esm.md b/doc/api/esm.md
index ce616e1f42fc12..36dba24e292eec 100644
--- a/doc/api/esm.md
+++ b/doc/api/esm.md
@@ -30,45 +30,37 @@ specifier resolution, and default behavior.
 The `--experimental-modules` flag can be used to enable support for
 ECMAScript modules (ES modules).
 
-## Running Node.js with an ECMAScript Module
+Once enabled, Node.js will treat the following as ES modules when passed to
+`node` as the initial input, or when referenced by `import` statements within
+ES module code:
 
-There are a few ways to start Node.js with an ES module as its input.
+- Files ending in `.mjs`.
 
-### Initial entry point with an <code>.mjs</code> extension
+- Files ending in `.js`, or extensionless files, when the nearest parent
+  `package.json` file contains a top-level field `"type"` with a value of
+  `"module"`.
 
-A file ending with `.mjs` passed to Node.js as an initial entry point will be
-loaded as an ES module.
+- Strings passed in as an argument to `--eval` or `--print`, or piped to
+  `node` via `STDIN`, with the flag `--input-type=module`.
 
-```sh
-node --experimental-modules my-app.mjs
-```
-
-### <code>--entry-type=module</code> flag
-
-Files ending with `.js` or `.mjs`, or lacking any extension,
-will be loaded as ES modules when the `--entry-type=module` flag is set.
-
-```sh
-node --experimental-modules --entry-type=module my-app.js
-```
+Node.js will treat as CommonJS all other forms of input, such as `.js` files
+where the nearest parent `package.json` file contains no top-level `"type"`
+field, or string input without the flag `--input-type`. This behavior is to
+preserve backward compatibility. However, now that Node.js supports both
+CommonJS and ES modules, it is best to be explicit whenever possible. Node.js
+will treat the following as CommonJS when passed to `node` as the initial input,
+or when referenced by `import` statements within ES module code:
 
-For completeness there is also `--entry-type=commonjs`, for explicitly running
-a `.js` file as CommonJS. This is the default behavior if `--entry-type` is
-unspecified.
+- Files ending in `.cjs`.
 
-The `--entry-type=module` flag can also be used to configure Node.js to treat
-as an ES module input sent in via `--eval` or `--print` (or `-e` or `-p`) or
-piped to Node.js via `STDIN`.
+- Files ending in `.js`, or extensionless files, when the nearest parent
+  `package.json` file contains a top-level field `"type"` with a value of
+  `"commonjs"`.
 
-```sh
-node --experimental-modules --entry-type=module --eval \
-  "import { sep } from 'path'; console.log(sep);"
-
-echo "import { sep } from 'path'; console.log(sep);" | \
-  node --experimental-modules --entry-type=module
-```
+- Strings passed in as an argument to `--eval` or `--print`, or piped to
+  `node` via `STDIN`, with the flag `--input-type=commonjs`.
 
-### <code>package.json</code> <code>"type"</code> field
+## <code>package.json</code> <code>"type"</code> field
 
 Files ending with `.js` or `.mjs`, or lacking any extension,
 will be loaded as ES modules when the nearest parent `package.json` file
@@ -97,6 +89,14 @@ If the volume root is reached and no `package.json` is found,
 Node.js defers to the default, a `package.json` with no `"type"`
 field.
 
+`import` statements of `.js` and extensionless files are treated as ES modules
+if the nearest parent `package.json` contains `"type": "module"`.
+
+```js
+// my-app.js, part of the same example as above
+import './startup.js'; // Loaded as ES module because of package.json
+```
+
 ## Package Scope and File Extensions
 
 A folder containing a `package.json` file, and all subfolders below that
@@ -156,6 +156,24 @@ package scope:
   extension (since both `.js` and `.cjs` files are treated as CommonJS within a
   `"commonjs"` package scope).
 
+## <code>--input-type</code> flag
+
+Strings passed in as an argument to `--eval` or `--print` (or `-e` or `-p`), or
+piped to `node` via `STDIN`, will be treated as ES modules when the
+`--input-type=module` flag is set.
+
+```sh
+node --experimental-modules --input-type=module --eval \
+  "import { sep } from 'path'; console.log(sep);"
+
+echo "import { sep } from 'path'; console.log(sep);" | \
+  node --experimental-modules --input-type=module
+```
+
+For completeness there is also `--input-type=commonjs`, for explicitly running
+string input as CommonJS. This is the default behavior if `--input-type` is
+unspecified.
+
 ## Package Entry Points
 
 The `package.json` `"main"` field defines the entry point for a package,
diff --git a/doc/node.1 b/doc/node.1
index e2b52b9e87399d..3de9a5748c242b 100644
--- a/doc/node.1
+++ b/doc/node.1
@@ -119,9 +119,6 @@ Enable FIPS-compliant crypto at startup.
 Requires Node.js to be built with
 .Sy ./configure --openssl-fips .
 .
-.It Fl -entry-type Ns = Ns Ar type
-Set the top-level module resolution type.
-.
 .It Fl -es-module-specifier-resolution
 Select extension resolution algorithm for ES Modules; either 'explicit' (default) or 'node'
 .
@@ -170,6 +167,9 @@ Specify ICU data load path.
 Overrides
 .Ev NODE_ICU_DATA .
 .
+.It Fl -input-type Ns = Ns Ar type
+Set the module resolution type for input via --eval, --print or STDIN.
+.
 .It Fl -inspect-brk Ns = Ns Ar [host:]port
 Activate inspector on
 .Ar host:port
diff --git a/lib/internal/errors.js b/lib/internal/errors.js
index bc3f43653a4a9b..ef8ed8b9a16d30 100644
--- a/lib/internal/errors.js
+++ b/lib/internal/errors.js
@@ -679,24 +679,6 @@ E('ERR_ENCODING_INVALID_ENCODED_DATA', function(encoding, ret) {
 }, TypeError);
 E('ERR_ENCODING_NOT_SUPPORTED', 'The "%s" encoding is not supported',
   RangeError);
-E('ERR_ENTRY_TYPE_MISMATCH', (filename, ext, typeFlag, conflict) => {
-  const typeString =
-    typeFlag === 'module' ? '--entry-type=module' : '--entry-type=commonjs';
-  // --entry-type mismatches file extension
-  if (conflict === 'extension') {
-    return `Extension ${ext} is not supported for ` +
-      `${typeString} loading ${filename}`;
-  }
-  assert(
-    conflict === 'scope',
-    '"conflict" value unknown. Set this argument to "extension" or "scope"'
-  );
-  // --entry-type mismatches package.json "type"
-  return `Cannot use ${typeString} because nearest parent package.json ` +
-    ((typeFlag === 'module') ?
-      'includes "type": "commonjs"' : 'includes "type": "module",') +
-    ` which controls the type to use for ${filename}`;
-}, TypeError);
 E('ERR_FALSY_VALUE_REJECTION', function(reason) {
   this.reason = reason;
   return 'Promise was rejected with falsy value';
@@ -809,6 +791,8 @@ E('ERR_HTTP_TRAILER_INVALID',
   'Trailers are invalid with this transfer encoding', Error);
 E('ERR_INCOMPATIBLE_OPTION_PAIR',
   'Option "%s" can not be used in combination with option "%s"', TypeError);
+E('ERR_INPUT_TYPE_NOT_ALLOWED', '--input-type can only be used with string ' +
+  'input via --eval, --print, or STDIN', Error);
 E('ERR_INSPECTOR_ALREADY_CONNECTED', '%s is already connected', Error);
 E('ERR_INSPECTOR_CLOSED', 'Session was closed', Error);
 E('ERR_INSPECTOR_COMMAND', 'Inspector error %d: %s', Error);
diff --git a/lib/internal/main/check_syntax.js b/lib/internal/main/check_syntax.js
index 5bfe4ec3cd6d9c..6d335565abbbb8 100644
--- a/lib/internal/main/check_syntax.js
+++ b/lib/internal/main/check_syntax.js
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ function checkSyntax(source, filename) {
   if (experimentalModules) {
     let isModule = false;
     if (filename === '[stdin]' || filename === '[eval]') {
-      isModule = getOptionValue('--entry-type') === 'module';
+      isModule = getOptionValue('--input-type') === 'module';
     } else {
       const resolve = require('internal/modules/esm/default_resolve');
       const { format } = resolve(pathToFileURL(filename).toString());
diff --git a/lib/internal/main/eval_stdin.js b/lib/internal/main/eval_stdin.js
index 4face9e61e7e64..5c8f40b0e3db2e 100644
--- a/lib/internal/main/eval_stdin.js
+++ b/lib/internal/main/eval_stdin.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ markBootstrapComplete();
 
 readStdin((code) => {
   process._eval = code;
-  if (require('internal/options').getOptionValue('--entry-type') === 'module')
+  if (require('internal/options').getOptionValue('--input-type') === 'module')
     evalModule(process._eval);
   else
     evalScript('[stdin]', process._eval, process._breakFirstLine);
diff --git a/lib/internal/main/eval_string.js b/lib/internal/main/eval_string.js
index b0322819251e76..4597d2a0bbef14 100644
--- a/lib/internal/main/eval_string.js
+++ b/lib/internal/main/eval_string.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ const source = getOptionValue('--eval');
 prepareMainThreadExecution();
 addBuiltinLibsToObject(global);
 markBootstrapComplete();
-if (getOptionValue('--entry-type') === 'module')
+if (getOptionValue('--input-type') === 'module')
   evalModule(source);
 else
   evalScript('[eval]', source, process._breakFirstLine);
diff --git a/lib/internal/main/repl.js b/lib/internal/main/repl.js
index d93314646e0ce8..aef3e8374d619f 100644
--- a/lib/internal/main/repl.js
+++ b/lib/internal/main/repl.js
@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@ const console = require('internal/console/global');
 
 prepareMainThreadExecution();
 
-// --entry-type flag not supported in REPL
-if (require('internal/options').getOptionValue('--entry-type')) {
+// --input-type flag not supported in REPL
+if (require('internal/options').getOptionValue('--input-type')) {
   // If we can't write to stderr, we'd like to make this a noop,
   // so use console.error.
-  console.error('Cannot specify --entry-type for REPL');
+  console.error('Cannot specify --input-type for REPL');
   process.exit(1);
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/internal/modules/esm/default_resolve.js b/lib/internal/modules/esm/default_resolve.js
index 8b8c5a2b5af702..a83cf9c67561b9 100644
--- a/lib/internal/modules/esm/default_resolve.js
+++ b/lib/internal/modules/esm/default_resolve.js
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@ const { getOptionValue } = require('internal/options');
 const preserveSymlinks = getOptionValue('--preserve-symlinks');
 const preserveSymlinksMain = getOptionValue('--preserve-symlinks-main');
 const experimentalJsonModules = getOptionValue('--experimental-json-modules');
-const typeFlag = getOptionValue('--entry-type');
+const typeFlag = getOptionValue('--input-type');
 
 const { resolve: moduleWrapResolve,
         getPackageType } = internalBinding('module_wrap');
 const { pathToFileURL, fileURLToPath } = require('internal/url');
-const { ERR_ENTRY_TYPE_MISMATCH,
+const { ERR_INPUT_TYPE_NOT_ALLOWED,
         ERR_UNKNOWN_FILE_EXTENSION } = require('internal/errors').codes;
 
 const {
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ const {
 const realpathCache = new SafeMap();
 
 // const TYPE_NONE = 0;
-const TYPE_COMMONJS = 1;
+// const TYPE_COMMONJS = 1;
 const TYPE_MODULE = 2;
 
 const extensionFormatMap = {
@@ -86,26 +86,16 @@ function resolve(specifier, parentURL) {
   let format = extMap[ext];
 
   if (isMain && typeFlag) {
-    // Conflict between explicit extension (.mjs, .cjs) and --entry-type
-    if (ext === '.cjs' && typeFlag === 'module' ||
-        ext === '.mjs' && typeFlag === 'commonjs') {
-      throw new ERR_ENTRY_TYPE_MISMATCH(
-        fileURLToPath(url), ext, typeFlag, 'extension');
-    }
-
-    // Conflict between package scope type and --entry-type
-    if (ext === '.js') {
-      if (type === TYPE_MODULE && typeFlag === 'commonjs' ||
-          type === TYPE_COMMONJS && typeFlag === 'module') {
-        throw new ERR_ENTRY_TYPE_MISMATCH(
-          fileURLToPath(url), ext, typeFlag, 'scope');
-      }
-    }
+    // This is the initial entry point to the program, and --input-type has
+    // been passed as an option; but --input-type can only be used with
+    // --eval, --print or STDIN string input. It is not allowed with file
+    // input, to avoid user confusion over how expansive the effect of the
+    // flag should be (i.e. entry point only, package scope surrounding the
+    // entry point, etc.).
+    throw new ERR_INPUT_TYPE_NOT_ALLOWED();
   }
   if (!format) {
-    if (isMain && typeFlag)
-      format = typeFlag;
-    else if (isMain)
+    if (isMain)
       format = type === TYPE_MODULE ? 'module' : 'commonjs';
     else
       throw new ERR_UNKNOWN_FILE_EXTENSION(fileURLToPath(url),
diff --git a/src/node_options.cc b/src/node_options.cc
index cb490dad75007e..d9c0d472fb16e6 100644
--- a/src/node_options.cc
+++ b/src/node_options.cc
@@ -109,11 +109,11 @@ void EnvironmentOptions::CheckOptions(std::vector<std::string>* errors) {
 
   if (!module_type.empty()) {
     if (!experimental_modules) {
-      errors->push_back("--entry-type requires "
+      errors->push_back("--input-type requires "
                         "--experimental-modules to be enabled");
     }
     if (module_type != "commonjs" && module_type != "module") {
-      errors->push_back("--entry-type must be \"module\" or \"commonjs\"");
+      errors->push_back("--input-type must be \"module\" or \"commonjs\"");
     }
   }
 
@@ -289,15 +289,15 @@ EnvironmentOptionsParser::EnvironmentOptionsParser() {
             "(default: llhttp).",
             &EnvironmentOptions::http_parser,
             kAllowedInEnvironment);
+  AddOption("--input-type",
+            "set module type for string input",
+            &EnvironmentOptions::module_type,
+            kAllowedInEnvironment);
   AddOption("--loader",
             "(with --experimental-modules) use the specified file as a "
             "custom loader",
             &EnvironmentOptions::userland_loader,
             kAllowedInEnvironment);
-  AddOption("--entry-type",
-            "set module type name of the entry point",
-            &EnvironmentOptions::module_type,
-            kAllowedInEnvironment);
   AddOption("--es-module-specifier-resolution",
             "Select extension resolution algorithm for es modules; "
             "either 'explicit' (default) or 'node'",
diff --git a/test/es-module/test-esm-no-extension.js b/test/es-module/test-esm-no-extension.js
index 3e9ffb2bbca8df..e3f30d6e3c2808 100644
--- a/test/es-module/test-esm-no-extension.js
+++ b/test/es-module/test-esm-no-extension.js
@@ -5,14 +5,13 @@ const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
 const { spawn } = require('child_process');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
-const entry = fixtures.path('/es-modules/noext-esm');
+const entry = fixtures.path('/es-modules/package-type-module/noext-esm');
 
-// Run a module that does not have extension
-// This is to ensure the --entry-type works as expected
+// Run a module that does not have extension.
+// This is to ensure that "type": "module" applies to extensionless files.
 
 const child = spawn(process.execPath, [
   '--experimental-modules',
-  '--entry-type=module',
   entry
 ]);
 
diff --git a/test/es-module/test-esm-type-flag-errors.js b/test/es-module/test-esm-type-flag-errors.js
index 612ada584d3726..169118e01800ef 100644
--- a/test/es-module/test-esm-type-flag-errors.js
+++ b/test/es-module/test-esm-type-flag-errors.js
@@ -19,17 +19,9 @@ expect('', packageTypeModuleMain, 'package-type-module');
 expect('', packageTypeCommonJsMain, 'package-type-commonjs');
 expect('', packageWithoutTypeMain, 'package-without-type');
 
-// Check that running with --entry-type and no package.json "type" works
-expect('--entry-type=commonjs', packageWithoutTypeMain, 'package-without-type');
-expect('--entry-type=module', packageWithoutTypeMain, 'package-without-type');
-
-// Check that running with conflicting --entry-type flags throws errors
-expect('--entry-type=commonjs', mjsFile, 'ERR_ENTRY_TYPE_MISMATCH', true);
-expect('--entry-type=module', cjsFile, 'ERR_ENTRY_TYPE_MISMATCH', true);
-expect('--entry-type=commonjs', packageTypeModuleMain,
-       'ERR_ENTRY_TYPE_MISMATCH', true);
-expect('--entry-type=module', packageTypeCommonJsMain,
-       'ERR_ENTRY_TYPE_MISMATCH', true);
+// Check that --input-type isn't allowed for files
+expect('--input-type=module', packageTypeModuleMain,
+       'ERR_INPUT_TYPE_NOT_ALLOWED', true);
 
 function expect(opt = '', inputFile, want, wantsError = false) {
   // TODO: Remove when --experimental-modules is unflagged
diff --git a/test/es-module/test-esm-type-flag.mjs b/test/es-module/test-esm-type-flag.mjs
index 2f5d0b626ad61b..4c04ef03e121f7 100644
--- a/test/es-module/test-esm-type-flag.mjs
+++ b/test/es-module/test-esm-type-flag.mjs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Flags: --experimental-modules --entry-type=module
+// Flags: --experimental-modules
 /* eslint-disable node-core/required-modules */
 import cjs from '../fixtures/baz.js';
 import '../common/index.mjs';
diff --git a/test/fixtures/es-modules/noext-esm b/test/fixtures/es-modules/package-type-module/noext-esm
similarity index 100%
rename from test/fixtures/es-modules/noext-esm
rename to test/fixtures/es-modules/package-type-module/noext-esm
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax-piped-bad.js b/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax-piped-bad.js
index 6d6f800a40414c..5da5f07e57d0ad 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax-piped-bad.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax-piped-bad.js
@@ -34,12 +34,12 @@ syntaxArgs.forEach(function(arg) {
   assert.strictEqual(c.status, 1);
 });
 
-// Check --entry-type=module
+// Check --input-type=module
 syntaxArgs.forEach(function(arg) {
   const stdin = 'export var p = 5; var foo bar;';
   const c = spawnSync(
     node,
-    ['--experimental-modules', '--entry-type=module', '--no-warnings', arg],
+    ['--experimental-modules', '--input-type=module', '--no-warnings', arg],
     { encoding: 'utf8', input: stdin }
   );
 
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax-piped-good.js b/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax-piped-good.js
index b2b02172cbc4c3..5df5eb1c51d105 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax-piped-good.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-cli-syntax-piped-good.js
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@ syntaxArgs.forEach(function(arg) {
   assert.strictEqual(c.status, 0);
 });
 
-// Check --entry-type=module
+// Check --input-type=module
 syntaxArgs.forEach(function(arg) {
   const stdin = 'export var p = 5; throw new Error("should not get run");';
   const c = spawnSync(
     node,
-    ['--experimental-modules', '--no-warnings', '--entry-type=module', arg],
+    ['--experimental-modules', '--no-warnings', '--input-type=module', arg],
     { encoding: 'utf8', input: stdin }
   );