diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 524a3a514..63deb06ea 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -55,11 +55,8 @@ solutions. The hope is for Matrix to act as the building blocks for a new
 generation of fully open and interoperable messaging and VoIP apps for the
 internet.
 
-Synapse is a reference "homeserver" implementation of Matrix from the core
-development team at matrix.org, written in Python/Twisted.  It is intended to
-showcase the concept of Matrix and let folks see the spec in the context of a
-codebase and let you run your own homeserver and generally help bootstrap the
-ecosystem.
+Synapse is a Matrix "homeserver" implementation developed by the matrix.org core 
+team, written in Python 3/Twisted.
 
 In Matrix, every user runs one or more Matrix clients, which connect through to
 a Matrix homeserver. The homeserver stores all their personal chat history and
diff --git a/changelog.d/10971.doc b/changelog.d/10971.doc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cc6cfe416
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/10971.doc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Change wording ("reference homeserver") in Synapse repository documentation. Contributed by @maxkratz.
diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
index e113f55d2..6d70f5aff 100644
--- a/docs/README.md
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ Please update any links to point to the new website instead.
 ## About
 
 This directory currently holds a series of markdown files documenting how to install, use
-and develop Synapse, the reference Matrix homeserver. The documentation is readable directly
-from this repository, but it is recommended to instead browse through the
-[website](https://matrix-org.github.io/synapse) for easier discoverability.
+and develop Synapse. The documentation is readable directly from this repository, but it is 
+recommended to instead browse through the [website](https://matrix-org.github.io/synapse) for 
+easier discoverability.
 
 ## Adding to the documentation
 
diff --git a/docs/welcome_and_overview.md b/docs/welcome_and_overview.md
index 30e75984d..9882d9f15 100644
--- a/docs/welcome_and_overview.md
+++ b/docs/welcome_and_overview.md
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 # Introduction
 
-Welcome to the documentation repository for Synapse, the reference
-[Matrix](https://matrix.org) homeserver implementation.
\ No newline at end of file
+Welcome to the documentation repository for Synapse, a 
+[Matrix](https://matrix.org) homeserver implementation developed by the matrix.org core 
+team.