diff --git a/src/_pytest/config/__init__.py b/src/_pytest/config/__init__.py
index 3516b333e..ed3334e5f 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/config/__init__.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/config/__init__.py
@@ -48,6 +48,13 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing import Type
 
 
+_PluggyPlugin = object
+"""A type to represent plugin objects.
+Plugins can be any namespace, so we can't narrow it down much, but we use an
+alias to make the intent clear.
+Ideally this type would be provided by pluggy itself."""
+
+
 hookimpl = HookimplMarker("pytest")
 hookspec = HookspecMarker("pytest")
 
diff --git a/src/_pytest/pytester.py b/src/_pytest/pytester.py
index 66f6701a0..cfe1b9a6c 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/pytester.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/pytester.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from _pytest._io.saferepr import saferepr
 from _pytest.capture import MultiCapture
 from _pytest.capture import SysCapture
 from _pytest.compat import TYPE_CHECKING
+from _pytest.config import _PluggyPlugin
 from _pytest.fixtures import FixtureRequest
 from _pytest.main import ExitCode
 from _pytest.main import Session
@@ -546,7 +547,7 @@ class Testdir:
         name = request.function.__name__
         self.tmpdir = tmpdir_factory.mktemp(name, numbered=True)
         self.test_tmproot = tmpdir_factory.mktemp("tmp-" + name, numbered=True)
-        self.plugins = []  # type: ignore[var-annotated] # noqa: F821
+        self.plugins = []  # type: List[Union[str, _PluggyPlugin]]
         self._cwd_snapshot = CwdSnapshot()
         self._sys_path_snapshot = SysPathsSnapshot()
         self._sys_modules_snapshot = self.__take_sys_modules_snapshot()