diff --git a/ModelDescriber/Annotations/AnnotationsReader.php b/ModelDescriber/Annotations/AnnotationsReader.php
index 62641ab..261bd84 100644
--- a/ModelDescriber/Annotations/AnnotationsReader.php
+++ b/ModelDescriber/Annotations/AnnotationsReader.php
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ namespace Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\ModelDescriber\Annotations;
 use Doctrine\Common\Annotations\Reader;
 use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Model\ModelRegistry;
 use OpenApi\Annotations as OA;
+use OpenApi\Generator;
 
 /**
  * @internal
@@ -37,10 +38,14 @@ class AnnotationsReader
         $this->symfonyConstraintAnnotationReader = new SymfonyConstraintAnnotationReader($annotationsReader);
     }
 
-    public function updateDefinition(\ReflectionClass $reflectionClass, OA\Schema $schema): void
+    public function updateDefinition(\ReflectionClass $reflectionClass, OA\Schema $schema): UpdateClassDefinitionResult
     {
         $this->openApiAnnotationsReader->updateSchema($reflectionClass, $schema);
         $this->symfonyConstraintAnnotationReader->setSchema($schema);
+
+        return new UpdateClassDefinitionResult(
+            $this->shouldDescribeModelProperties($schema)
+        );
     }
 
     public function getPropertyName($reflection, string $default): string
@@ -54,4 +59,15 @@ class AnnotationsReader
         $this->phpDocReader->updateProperty($reflection, $property);
         $this->symfonyConstraintAnnotationReader->updateProperty($reflection, $property);
     }
+
+    /**
+     * if an objects schema type and ref are undefined OR the object was manually
+     * defined as an object, then we're good to do the normal describe flow of
+     * class properties.
+     */
+    private function shouldDescribeModelProperties(OA\Schema $schema): bool
+    {
+        return (Generator::UNDEFINED === $schema->type || 'object' === $schema->type)
+            && Generator::UNDEFINED === $schema->ref;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/ModelDescriber/Annotations/UpdateClassDefinitionResult.php b/ModelDescriber/Annotations/UpdateClassDefinitionResult.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3a3945c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ModelDescriber/Annotations/UpdateClassDefinitionResult.php
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of the NelmioApiDocBundle package.
+ *
+ * (c) Nelmio
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+namespace Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\ModelDescriber\Annotations;
+
+/**
+ * result object returned from `AnnotationReader::updateDefinition` as a way
+ * to pass back information about manually defined schema elements.
+ *
+ * @internal
+ */
+final class UpdateClassDefinitionResult
+{
+    /**
+     * Whether or not the model describer shoudl continue reading class properties
+     * after updating the open api schema from an `OA\Schema` definition.
+     *
+     * Users may maually define a `type` or `ref` on a schema, and if that's the case
+     * model describers should _probably_ not describe any additional properties or try
+     * to merge in properties.
+     */
+    private $shouldDescribeModelProperties;
+
+    public function __construct(bool $shouldDescribeModelProperties)
+    {
+        $this->shouldDescribeModelProperties = $shouldDescribeModelProperties;
+    }
+
+    public function shouldDescribeModelProperties(): bool
+    {
+        return $this->shouldDescribeModelProperties;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/ModelDescriber/FormModelDescriber.php b/ModelDescriber/FormModelDescriber.php
index 093422b..7a398a8 100644
--- a/ModelDescriber/FormModelDescriber.php
+++ b/ModelDescriber/FormModelDescriber.php
@@ -63,12 +63,16 @@ final class FormModelDescriber implements ModelDescriberInterface, ModelRegistry
             throw new \LogicException('You need to enable forms in your application to use a form as a model.');
         }
 
-        $schema->type = 'object';
-
         $class = $model->getType()->getClassName();
 
         $annotationsReader = new AnnotationsReader($this->doctrineReader, $this->modelRegistry, $this->mediaTypes);
-        $annotationsReader->updateDefinition(new \ReflectionClass($class), $schema);
+        $classResult = $annotationsReader->updateDefinition(new \ReflectionClass($class), $schema);
+
+        if (!$classResult->shouldDescribeModelProperties()) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        $schema->type = 'object';
 
         $form = $this->formFactory->create($class, null, $model->getOptions() ?? []);
         $this->parseForm($schema, $form);
diff --git a/ModelDescriber/JMSModelDescriber.php b/ModelDescriber/JMSModelDescriber.php
index 60a57ac..0a65c26 100644
--- a/ModelDescriber/JMSModelDescriber.php
+++ b/ModelDescriber/JMSModelDescriber.php
@@ -73,9 +73,13 @@ class JMSModelDescriber implements ModelDescriberInterface, ModelRegistryAwareIn
             throw new \InvalidArgumentException(sprintf('No metadata found for class %s.', $className));
         }
 
-        $schema->type = 'object';
         $annotationsReader = new AnnotationsReader($this->doctrineReader, $this->modelRegistry, $this->mediaTypes);
-        $annotationsReader->updateDefinition(new \ReflectionClass($className), $schema);
+        $classResult = $annotationsReader->updateDefinition(new \ReflectionClass($className), $schema);
+
+        if (!$classResult->shouldDescribeModelProperties()) {
+            return;
+        }
+        $schema->type = 'object';
 
         $isJmsV1 = null !== $this->namingStrategy;
 
diff --git a/ModelDescriber/ObjectModelDescriber.php b/ModelDescriber/ObjectModelDescriber.php
index 21f8d03..e10dba6 100644
--- a/ModelDescriber/ObjectModelDescriber.php
+++ b/ModelDescriber/ObjectModelDescriber.php
@@ -58,8 +58,6 @@ class ObjectModelDescriber implements ModelDescriberInterface, ModelRegistryAwar
 
     public function describe(Model $model, OA\Schema $schema)
     {
-        $schema->type = 'object';
-
         $class = $model->getType()->getClassName();
         $schema->_context->class = $class;
 
@@ -70,7 +68,13 @@ class ObjectModelDescriber implements ModelDescriberInterface, ModelRegistryAwar
 
         $reflClass = new \ReflectionClass($class);
         $annotationsReader = new AnnotationsReader($this->doctrineReader, $this->modelRegistry, $this->mediaTypes);
-        $annotationsReader->updateDefinition($reflClass, $schema);
+        $classResult = $annotationsReader->updateDefinition($reflClass, $schema);
+
+        if (!$classResult->shouldDescribeModelProperties()) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        $schema->type = 'object';
 
         $discriminatorMap = $this->getAnnotation($reflClass, DiscriminatorMap::class);
         if ($discriminatorMap && Generator::UNDEFINED === $schema->discriminator) {
diff --git a/Resources/doc/faq.rst b/Resources/doc/faq.rst
index 6398a41..439dfb5 100644
--- a/Resources/doc/faq.rst
+++ b/Resources/doc/faq.rst
@@ -210,3 +210,30 @@ A: Use ``disable_default_routes`` config in your area.
         areas:
             default:
                 disable_default_routes: true
+
+Overriding a Form or Plain PHP Object Schema Type
+-------------------------------------------------
+
+Q: I'd like to define a PHP object or form with a type other any ``object``, how
+do I do that?
+
+A: By using the ``@OA\Schema`` annotation or attribute with a ``type`` or ``ref``.
+Note, however, that a ``type="object"`` will still read all a models properties.
+
+.. code-block:: php
+
+    <?php
+    use OpenApi\Annotations as OA;
+    use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Annotation\Model;
+
+    /**
+     * @OA\Schema(type="array", @OA\Items(ref=@Model(type=SomeEntity::class)))
+     *
+     * or define a `ref`:
+     * @OA\Schema(ref="#/components/schemas/SomeRef")
+     */
+    class SomeCollection implements \IteratorAggregate
+    {
+        // ...
+    }
+
diff --git a/Tests/Functional/Controller/ApiController80.php b/Tests/Functional/Controller/ApiController80.php
index b292e83..3d74a53 100644
--- a/Tests/Functional/Controller/ApiController80.php
+++ b/Tests/Functional/Controller/ApiController80.php
@@ -17,10 +17,15 @@ use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Annotation\Operation;
 use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Annotation\Security;
 use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Entity\Article;
 use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Entity\CompoundEntity;
+use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Entity\EntityWithAlternateType;
+use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Entity\EntityWithObjectType;
+use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Entity\EntityWithRef;
 use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Entity\SymfonyConstraints;
 use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Entity\SymfonyDiscriminator;
 use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Entity\User;
 use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Form\DummyType;
+use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Form\FormWithAlternateSchemaType;
+use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Form\FormWithRefType;
 use Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Form\UserType;
 use OpenApi\Annotations as OA;
 use Symfony\Component\Routing\Annotation\Route;
@@ -259,4 +264,68 @@ class ApiController80
     public function customOperationIdAction()
     {
     }
+
+    /**
+     * @Route("/alternate-entity-type", methods={"GET", "POST"})
+     *
+     * @OA\Get(operationId="alternate-entity-type")
+     * @OA\Response(response=200, description="success", @OA\JsonContent(
+     *      ref=@Model(type=EntityWithAlternateType::class),
+     * ))
+     */
+    public function alternateEntityType()
+    {
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @Route("/entity-with-ref", methods={"GET", "POST"})
+     *
+     * @OA\Get(operationId="entity-with-ref")
+     * @OA\Response(response=200, description="success", @OA\JsonContent(
+     *      ref=@Model(type=EntityWithRef::class),
+     * ))
+     */
+    public function entityWithRef()
+    {
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @Route("/entity-with-object-type", methods={"GET", "POST"})
+     *
+     * @OA\Get(operationId="entity-with-object-type")
+     * @OA\Response(response=200, description="success", @OA\JsonContent(
+     *      ref=@Model(type=EntityWithObjectType::class),
+     * ))
+     */
+    public function entityWithObjectType()
+    {
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @Route("/form-with-alternate-type", methods={"POST"})
+     * @OA\Response(
+     *    response="204",
+     *    description="Operation automatically detected",
+     * ),
+     * @OA\RequestBody(
+     *    @Model(type=FormWithAlternateSchemaType::class))
+     * )
+     */
+    public function formWithAlternateSchemaType()
+    {
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @Route("/form-with-ref-type", methods={"POST"})
+     * @OA\Response(
+     *    response="204",
+     *    description="Operation automatically detected",
+     * ),
+     * @OA\RequestBody(
+     *    @Model(type=FormWithRefType::class))
+     * )
+     */
+    public function formWithRefSchemaType()
+    {
+    }
 }
diff --git a/Tests/Functional/Entity/EntityWithAlternateType.php b/Tests/Functional/Entity/EntityWithAlternateType.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1b9538c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tests/Functional/Entity/EntityWithAlternateType.php
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of the NelmioApiDocBundle package.
+ *
+ * (c) Nelmio
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+namespace Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Entity;
+
+use ArrayIterator;
+use IteratorAggregate;
+use OpenApi\Annotations as OA;
+
+/**
+ * @OA\Schema(type="array", @OA\Items(type="string"))
+ */
+class EntityWithAlternateType implements IteratorAggregate
+{
+    /**
+     * @var string
+     */
+    public $ignored = 'this property should be ignored because of the annotation above';
+
+    public function getIterator(): ArrayIterator
+    {
+        return new ArrayIterator([
+            'abc',
+            'def',
+        ]);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Tests/Functional/Entity/EntityWithObjectType.php b/Tests/Functional/Entity/EntityWithObjectType.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba0415c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tests/Functional/Entity/EntityWithObjectType.php
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of the NelmioApiDocBundle package.
+ *
+ * (c) Nelmio
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+namespace Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Entity;
+
+use OpenApi\Annotations as OA;
+
+/**
+ * @OA\Schema(type="object")
+ */
+class EntityWithObjectType
+{
+    /**
+     * @var string
+     */
+    public $notIgnored = 'this should be read';
+}
diff --git a/Tests/Functional/Entity/EntityWithRef.php b/Tests/Functional/Entity/EntityWithRef.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f149bfb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tests/Functional/Entity/EntityWithRef.php
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of the NelmioApiDocBundle package.
+ *
+ * (c) Nelmio
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+namespace Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Entity;
+
+use OpenApi\Annotations as OA;
+
+/**
+ * @OA\Schema(ref="#/components/schemas/Test")
+ */
+class EntityWithRef
+{
+    /**
+     * @var string
+     */
+    public $ignored = 'this property should be ignored because of the annotation above';
+}
diff --git a/Tests/Functional/Form/FormWithAlternateSchemaType.php b/Tests/Functional/Form/FormWithAlternateSchemaType.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..68f1e5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tests/Functional/Form/FormWithAlternateSchemaType.php
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of the NelmioApiDocBundle package.
+ *
+ * (c) Nelmio
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+namespace Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Form;
+
+use OpenApi\Annotations as OA;
+use Symfony\Component\Form\AbstractType;
+use Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\InputType;
+use Symfony\Component\Form\FormBuilderInterface;
+
+/**
+ * @OA\Schema(type="string")
+ */
+class FormWithAlternateSchemaType extends AbstractType
+{
+    public function buildForm(FormBuilderInterface $builder, array $options)
+    {
+        $builder
+            ->add('ignored', InputType::class, [
+                'required' => false,
+            ]);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Tests/Functional/Form/FormWithRefType.php b/Tests/Functional/Form/FormWithRefType.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7904230
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tests/Functional/Form/FormWithRefType.php
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of the NelmioApiDocBundle package.
+ *
+ * (c) Nelmio
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+namespace Nelmio\ApiDocBundle\Tests\Functional\Form;
+
+use OpenApi\Annotations as OA;
+use Symfony\Component\Form\AbstractType;
+use Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\InputType;
+use Symfony\Component\Form\FormBuilderInterface;
+
+/**
+ * @OA\Schema(ref="#/components/schemas/Test")
+ */
+class FormWithRefType extends AbstractType
+{
+    public function buildForm(FormBuilderInterface $builder, array $options)
+    {
+        $builder
+            ->add('ignored', InputType::class, [
+                'required' => false,
+            ]);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Tests/Functional/FunctionalTest.php b/Tests/Functional/FunctionalTest.php
index 6ef59df..617a98d 100644
--- a/Tests/Functional/FunctionalTest.php
+++ b/Tests/Functional/FunctionalTest.php
@@ -635,4 +635,49 @@ class FunctionalTest extends WebTestCase
         $this->assertSame('string', $model->type);
         $this->assertCount(2, $model->enum);
     }
+
+    public function testEntitiesWithOverriddenSchemaTypeDoNotReadOtherProperties()
+    {
+        $model = $this->getModel('EntityWithAlternateType');
+
+        $this->assertSame('array', $model->type);
+        $this->assertSame('string', $model->items->type);
+        $this->assertSame(Generator::UNDEFINED, $model->properties);
+    }
+
+    public function testEntitiesWithRefInSchemaDoNoReadOtherProperties()
+    {
+        $model = $this->getModel('EntityWithRef');
+
+        $this->assertSame(Generator::UNDEFINED, $model->type);
+        $this->assertSame('#/components/schemas/Test', $model->ref);
+        $this->assertSame(Generator::UNDEFINED, $model->properties);
+    }
+
+    public function testEntitiesWithObjectTypeStillReadProperties()
+    {
+        $model = $this->getModel('EntityWithObjectType');
+
+        $this->assertSame('object', $model->type);
+        $this->assertCount(1, $model->properties);
+        $property = Util::getProperty($model, 'notIgnored');
+        $this->assertSame('string', $property->type);
+    }
+
+    public function testFormsWithOverriddenSchemaTypeDoNotReadOtherProperties()
+    {
+        $model = $this->getModel('FormWithAlternateSchemaType');
+
+        $this->assertSame('string', $model->type);
+        $this->assertSame(Generator::UNDEFINED, $model->properties);
+    }
+
+    public function testFormWithRefInSchemaDoNoReadOtherProperties()
+    {
+        $model = $this->getModel('FormWithRefType');
+
+        $this->assertSame(Generator::UNDEFINED, $model->type);
+        $this->assertSame('#/components/schemas/Test', $model->ref);
+        $this->assertSame(Generator::UNDEFINED, $model->properties);
+    }
 }