diff --git a/docs/admin_api/rooms.md b/docs/admin_api/rooms.md
index e98fd6b1b57d..328853a9e1fa 100644
--- a/docs/admin_api/rooms.md
+++ b/docs/admin_api/rooms.md
@@ -38,10 +38,14 @@ The following query parameters are available:
   - `history_visibility` - Rooms are ordered alphabetically by visibility of history of the room.
   - `state_events` - Rooms are ordered by number of state events. Largest to smallest.
 * `dir` - Direction of room order. Either `f` for forwards or `b` for backwards. Setting
-          this value to `b` will reverse the above sort order. Defaults to `f`.
+  this value to `b` will reverse the above sort order. Defaults to `f`.
 * `search_term` - Filter rooms by their room name, canonical alias and room id.
-                  Search term can be contained in any part of the room name and
-                  local part of canonical alias or room id. Defaults to no filtering.
+  Specifically, rooms are selected if the search term is contained in
+  - the room's name,
+  - the local part of the room's canonical alias, or
+  - the local part of the room's id.
+
+  Defaults to no filtering.
 
 **Response**
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py
index ae73cbb82654..b56c3d88ec83 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py
@@ -417,6 +417,7 @@ async def get_rooms_paginate(
         """
         # Filter room names by a string
         where_statement = ""
+        search_pattern = ""
         if search_term:
             where_statement = """
                 WHERE LOWER(state.name) LIKE ?
@@ -429,7 +430,7 @@ async def get_rooms_paginate(
             # HOWEVER, if you put a % into your SQL then everything goes wibbly.
             # To get around this, we're going to surround search_term with %'s
             # before giving it to the database in python instead
-            search_term = [
+            search_pattern = [
                 "%" + search_term.lower() + "%",
                 "#%" + search_term.lower() + "%:%",
                 "!%" + search_term.lower() + "%:%",
@@ -527,9 +528,9 @@ async def get_rooms_paginate(
         def _get_rooms_paginate_txn(txn):
             # Execute the data query
             sql_values = [limit, start]
-            if search_term:
+            if search_pattern:
                 # Add the search term into the WHERE clause
-                sql_values = search_term + sql_values
+                sql_values = search_pattern + sql_values
             txn.execute(info_sql, sql_values)
 
             # Refactor room query data into a structured dictionary
@@ -557,7 +558,7 @@ def _get_rooms_paginate_txn(txn):
             # Execute the count query
 
             # Add the search term into the WHERE clause if present
-            sql_values = search_term if search_term else ()
+            sql_values = search_pattern if search_pattern else ()
             txn.execute(count_sql, sql_values)
 
             room_count = txn.fetchone()
diff --git a/tests/rest/admin/test_room.py b/tests/rest/admin/test_room.py
index a84c2c37318f..1ddad0d249c8 100644
--- a/tests/rest/admin/test_room.py
+++ b/tests/rest/admin/test_room.py
@@ -895,7 +895,7 @@ def _search_test(
                 r = rooms[0]
                 self.assertEqual(expected_room_id, r["room_id"])
 
-        # Perform search tests
+        # Test searching by room name
         _search_test(room_id_1, "something")
         _search_test(room_id_1, "thing")