diff --git a/importlib_metadata/__init__.py b/importlib_metadata/__init__.py
index 9a673358..c35fe108 100644
--- a/importlib_metadata/__init__.py
+++ b/importlib_metadata/__init__.py
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ def _discover_resolvers():
         return filter(None, declared)
 
     @property
-    @apply(localize.metadata)
+    @apply(localize.message)
     def metadata(self) -> _meta.PackageMetadata:
         """Return the parsed metadata for this Distribution.
 
diff --git a/importlib_metadata/_compat/localize.py b/importlib_metadata/_compat/localize.py
index 9062ff01..d90da1a3 100644
--- a/importlib_metadata/_compat/localize.py
+++ b/importlib_metadata/_compat/localize.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def dist(
     return cast(importlib_metadata.Distribution, dist)
 
 
-def metadata(
+def message(
     input: importlib_metadata._adapters.Message | email.message.Message,
 ) -> importlib_metadata._adapters.Message:
     if isinstance(input, importlib_metadata._adapters.Message):