diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cc3c8fe4c..388b1c291 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ When updating the playbook, refer to [the changelog](CHANGELOG.md) to catch up w
 
 This playbook sets up your server using the following Docker images:
 
-- [matrixdotorg/synapse](https://hub.docker.com/r/matrixdotorg/synapse/) - the official [Matrix Synapse](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse) server
+- [matrixdotorg/synapse](https://hub.docker.com/r/matrixdotorg/synapse/) - the official [Synapse](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse) Matrix homeserver
 
 - [instrumentisto/coturn](https://hub.docker.com/r/instrumentisto/coturn/) - the [Coturn](https://github.com/coturn/coturn) STUN/TURN server (optional)
 
diff --git a/docs/configuring-playbook-s3.md b/docs/configuring-playbook-s3.md
index e0687d8d9..dda75cf2b 100644
--- a/docs/configuring-playbook-s3.md
+++ b/docs/configuring-playbook-s3.md
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 # Storing Matrix media files on Amazon S3 (optional)
 
-By default, this playbook configures your server to store Matrix Synapse's content repository (`media_store`) files on the local filesystem.
+By default, this playbook configures your server to store Synapse's content repository (`media_store`) files on the local filesystem.
 If that's alright, you can skip this.
 
-If you'd like to store Matrix Synapse's content repository (`media_store`) files on Amazon S3,
+If you'd like to store Synapse's content repository (`media_store`) files on Amazon S3,
 you can let this playbook configure [Goofys](https://github.com/kahing/goofys) for you.
 
 You'll need an Amazon S3 bucket and some IAM user credentials (access key + secret key) with full write access to the bucket. Example security policy:
@@ -36,4 +36,4 @@ matrix_s3_media_store_bucket_name: "your-bucket-name"
 matrix_s3_media_store_aws_access_key: "access-key-goes-here"
 matrix_s3_media_store_aws_secret_key: "secret-key-goes-here"
 matrix_s3_media_store_region: "eu-central-1"
-```
\ No newline at end of file
+```
diff --git a/docs/importing-media-store.md b/docs/importing-media-store.md
index 7aa6c5b59..0d86370b4 100644
--- a/docs/importing-media-store.md
+++ b/docs/importing-media-store.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Importing `media_store` data files from an existing installation (optional)
 
-Run this if you'd like to import your `media_store` files from a previous installation of Matrix Synapse.
+Run this if you'd like to import your `media_store` files from a previous installation of Synapse.
 
 
 ## Prerequisites
@@ -19,4 +19,4 @@ Run this command (make sure to replace `<server-path-to-media_store>` with a pat
 
 	ansible-playbook -i inventory/hosts setup.yml --extra-vars='server_path_media_store=<server-path-to-media_store>' --tags=import-media-store
 
-**Note**: `<server-path-to-media_store>` must be a file path to a `media_store` directory on the server (not on your local machine!).
\ No newline at end of file
+**Note**: `<server-path-to-media_store>` must be a file path to a `media_store` directory on the server (not on your local machine!).
diff --git a/docs/importing-postgres.md b/docs/importing-postgres.md
index 7fd1ba977..878888f03 100644
--- a/docs/importing-postgres.md
+++ b/docs/importing-postgres.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Importing an existing Postgres database from another installation (optional)
 
-Run this if you'd like to import your database from a previous installation of Matrix Synapse.
+Run this if you'd like to import your database from a previous installation of Synapse.
 (don't forget to import your `media_store` files as well - see [the importing-media-store guide](importing-media-store.md)).
 
 
diff --git a/docs/importing-sqlite.md b/docs/importing-sqlite.md
index af705a79f..cb30d0984 100644
--- a/docs/importing-sqlite.md
+++ b/docs/importing-sqlite.md
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 # Importing an existing SQLite database from another installation (optional)
 
-Run this if you'd like to import your database from a previous default installation of Matrix Synapse.
+Run this if you'd like to import your database from a previous default installation of Synapse.
 (don't forget to import your `media_store` files as well - see [the importing-media-store guide](importing-media-store.md)).
 
-While this playbook always sets up PostgreSQL, by default a Matrix Synapse installation would run
+While this playbook always sets up PostgreSQL, by default a Synapse installation would run
 using an SQLite database.
 
-If you have such a Matrix Synapse setup and wish to migrate it here (and over to PostgreSQL), this command is for you.
+If you have such a Synapse setup and wish to migrate it here (and over to PostgreSQL), this command is for you.
 
 
 ## Prerequisites
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ Run this command (make sure to replace `<server-path-to-homeserver.db>` with a f
 
 	ansible-playbook -i inventory/hosts setup.yml --extra-vars='server_path_homeserver_db=<server-path-to-homeserver.db>' --tags=import-sqlite-db
 
-**Note**: `<server-path-to-homeserver.db>` must be a file path to a `homeserver.db` file on the server (not on your local machine!).
\ No newline at end of file
+**Note**: `<server-path-to-homeserver.db>` must be a file path to a `homeserver.db` file on the server (not on your local machine!).
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
index d6a4f0474..8edc6b621 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
@@ -119,26 +119,26 @@ matrix_synapse_auto_join_rooms: []
 # automatically if they don't already exist.
 matrix_synapse_autocreate_auto_join_rooms: true
 
-# Controls password-peppering for Matrix Synapse. Not to be changed after initial setup.
+# Controls password-peppering for Synapse. Not to be changed after initial setup.
 matrix_synapse_password_config_pepper: ""
 
-# Controls the number of events that Matrix Synapse caches in memory.
+# Controls the number of events that Synapse caches in memory.
 matrix_synapse_event_cache_size: "100K"
 
-# Controls cache sizes for Matrix Synapse via the SYNAPSE_CACHE_FACTOR environment variable.
+# Controls cache sizes for Synapse via the SYNAPSE_CACHE_FACTOR environment variable.
 # Raise this to increase cache sizes or lower it to potentially lower memory use.
 # To learn more, see:
 # - https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse#help-synapse-eats-all-my-ram
 # - https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/3939
 matrix_synapse_cache_factor: 0.5
 
-# Controls whether Matrix Synapse will federate at all.
+# Controls whether Synapse will federate at all.
 # Disable this to completely isolate your server from the rest of the Matrix network.
 # Also see: `matrix_synapse_tls_federation_listener_enabled` if you wish to keep federation enabled,
 # but want to stop the TLS listener (port 8448).
 matrix_synapse_federation_enabled: true
 
-# A list of domain names that are allowed to federate with the given Matrix Synapse server.
+# A list of domain names that are allowed to federate with the given Synapse server.
 # An empty list value (`[]`) will also effectively stop federation, but if that's the desired
 # result, it's better to accomplish it by changing `matrix_synapse_federation_enabled`.
 matrix_synapse_federation_domain_whitelist: ~
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/import_media_store.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/import_media_store.yml
index f3f606fdb..8d9647157 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/import_media_store.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/import_media_store.yml
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
 # We don't chown for Goofys, because due to the way it's mounted,
 # all files become owned by whoever needs to own them.
 
-- name: Ensure Matrix Synapse is started (if it previously was)
+- name: Ensure Synapse is started (if it previously was)
   service:
     name: "{{ item }}"
     state: started
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/register_user.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/register_user.yml
index 1a4bd446e..c476adfeb 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/register_user.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/register_user.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
     daemon_reload: yes
   register: start_result
 
-- name: Wait a while, so that Matrix Synapse can manage to start
+- name: Wait a while, so that Synapse can manage to start
   pause:
     seconds: 7
   when: start_result.changed
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/setup_synapse_main.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/setup_synapse_main.yml
index f1bb14300..6e56b659f 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/setup_synapse_main.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/setup_synapse_main.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 
 # This will throw a Permission Denied error if already mounted using fuse
-- name: Check Matrix Synapse media store path
+- name: Check Synapse media store path
   stat:
     path: "{{ matrix_synapse_media_store_path }}"
   register: local_path_media_store_stat
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 # This is separate and conditional, to ensure we don't execute it
 # if the path already exists or we failed to check, because it's mounted using fuse.
-- name: Ensure Matrix media store path exists
+- name: Ensure Synapse media store path exists
   file:
     path: "{{ matrix_synapse_media_store_path }}"
     state: directory
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     group: "{{ matrix_user_username }}"
   when: "not local_path_media_store_stat.failed and not local_path_media_store_stat.stat.exists"
 
-- name: Ensure Matrix Docker image is pulled
+- name: Ensure Synapse Docker image is pulled
   docker_image:
     name: "{{ matrix_synapse_docker_image }}"
 
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 #
 # We don't use the `docker_container` module, because using it with `cap_drop` requires
 # a very recent version, which is not available for a lot of people yet.
-- name: Generate initial Matrix config and signing key
+- name: Generate initial Synapse config and signing key
   command: |
     docker run
     --rm
@@ -49,13 +49,13 @@
     generate
   when: "not matrix_synapse_signing_key_stat.stat.exists"
 
-- name: Ensure Matrix homeserver config installed
+- name: Ensure Synapse homeserver config installed
   template:
     src: "{{ matrix_synapse_template_synapse_homeserver }}"
     dest: "{{ matrix_synapse_config_dir_path }}/homeserver.yaml"
     mode: 0644
 
-- name: Ensure Matrix log config installed
+- name: Ensure Synapse log config installed
   template:
     src: "{{ matrix_synapse_template_synapse_log }}"
     dest: "{{ matrix_synapse_config_dir_path }}/{{ matrix_server_fqn_matrix }}.log.config"
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/setup_synapse_pre.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/setup_synapse_pre.yml
index 2871ef269..f95c3eb2a 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/setup_synapse_pre.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/setup_synapse_pre.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     matrix_synapse_media_store_parent_path: "{{ matrix_synapse_media_store_path|dirname }}"
     matrix_synapse_media_store_directory_name: "{{ matrix_synapse_media_store_path|basename }}"
 
-- name: Ensure Matrix Synapse paths exist
+- name: Ensure Synapse paths exist
   file:
     path: "{{ item }}"
     state: directory
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
     - "{{ matrix_synapse_ext_path }}"
     # We handle matrix_synapse_media_store_path elsewhere (in setup_synapse_main.yml),
     # because if it's using Goofys and it's already mounted (from before),
-    # trying to chown/chmod it here will cause trouble.
\ No newline at end of file
+    # trying to chown/chmod it here will cause trouble.
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/systemd/matrix-synapse.service.j2 b/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/systemd/matrix-synapse.service.j2
index f11e99d49..fe8d0c8aa 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/systemd/matrix-synapse.service.j2
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/systemd/matrix-synapse.service.j2
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [Unit]
-Description=Matrix Synapse server
+Description=Synapse server
 {% for service in matrix_synapse_systemd_required_services_list %}
 Requires={{ service }}
 After={{ service }}