diff --git a/benchmarks/benches/utils.rs b/benchmarks/benches/utils.rs
index 81e50d1bb..a240ce299 100644
--- a/benchmarks/benches/utils.rs
+++ b/benchmarks/benches/utils.rs
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ pub fn run_benches(c: &mut criterion::Criterion, confs: &[Conf]) {
                 b.iter(|| {
                     let rtxn = index.read_txn().unwrap();
                     let mut search = index.search(&rtxn);
-                    search.query(query).optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+                    search.query(query).terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
                     if let Some(filter) = conf.filter {
                         let filter = Filter::from_str(filter).unwrap().unwrap();
                         search.filter(filter);
diff --git a/milli/src/search/mod.rs b/milli/src/search/mod.rs
index 3da8823dc..7145c1445 100644
--- a/milli/src/search/mod.rs
+++ b/milli/src/search/mod.rs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ pub struct Search<'a> {
     offset: usize,
     limit: usize,
     sort_criteria: Option<Vec<AscDesc>>,
-    optional_words: TermsMatchingStrategy,
+    terms_matching_strategy: TermsMatchingStrategy,
     authorize_typos: bool,
     words_limit: usize,
     rtxn: &'a heed::RoTxn<'a>,
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ impl<'a> Search<'a> {
             offset: 0,
             limit: 20,
             sort_criteria: None,
-            optional_words: TermsMatchingStrategy::default(),
+            terms_matching_strategy: TermsMatchingStrategy::default(),
             authorize_typos: true,
             words_limit: 10,
             rtxn,
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ impl<'a> Search<'a> {
         self
     }
 
-    pub fn optional_words(&mut self, value: TermsMatchingStrategy) -> &mut Search<'a> {
-        self.optional_words = value;
+    pub fn terms_matching_strategy(&mut self, value: TermsMatchingStrategy) -> &mut Search<'a> {
+        self.terms_matching_strategy = value;
         self
     }
 
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ impl<'a> Search<'a> {
         let (query_tree, primitive_query, matching_words) = match self.query.as_ref() {
             Some(query) => {
                 let mut builder = QueryTreeBuilder::new(self.rtxn, self.index)?;
-                builder.optional_words(self.optional_words);
+                builder.terms_matching_strategy(self.terms_matching_strategy);
 
                 builder.authorize_typos(self.is_typo_authorized()?);
 
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ impl fmt::Debug for Search<'_> {
             offset,
             limit,
             sort_criteria,
-            optional_words,
+            terms_matching_strategy,
             authorize_typos,
             words_limit,
             rtxn: _,
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ impl fmt::Debug for Search<'_> {
             .field("offset", offset)
             .field("limit", limit)
             .field("sort_criteria", sort_criteria)
-            .field("optional_words", optional_words)
+            .field("terms_matching_strategy", terms_matching_strategy)
             .field("authorize_typos", authorize_typos)
             .field("words_limit", words_limit)
             .finish()
diff --git a/milli/src/search/query_tree.rs b/milli/src/search/query_tree.rs
index 39377d8f9..51774d8b4 100644
--- a/milli/src/search/query_tree.rs
+++ b/milli/src/search/query_tree.rs
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ trait Context {
 pub struct QueryTreeBuilder<'a> {
     rtxn: &'a heed::RoTxn<'a>,
     index: &'a Index,
-    optional_words: TermsMatchingStrategy,
+    terms_matching_strategy: TermsMatchingStrategy,
     authorize_typos: bool,
     words_limit: Option<usize>,
     exact_words: Option<fst::Set<Cow<'a, [u8]>>>,
@@ -199,19 +199,22 @@ impl<'a> QueryTreeBuilder<'a> {
         Ok(Self {
             rtxn,
             index,
-            optional_words: TermsMatchingStrategy::default(),
+            terms_matching_strategy: TermsMatchingStrategy::default(),
             authorize_typos: true,
             words_limit: None,
             exact_words: index.exact_words(rtxn)?,
         })
     }
 
-    /// if `optional_words` is set to `false` the query tree will be
+    /// if `terms_matching_strategy` is set to `All` the query tree will be
     /// generated forcing all query words to be present in each matching documents
     /// (the criterion `words` will be ignored).
-    /// default value if not called: `true`
-    pub fn optional_words(&mut self, optional_words: TermsMatchingStrategy) -> &mut Self {
-        self.optional_words = optional_words;
+    /// default value if not called: `Last`
+    pub fn terms_matching_strategy(
+        &mut self,
+        terms_matching_strategy: TermsMatchingStrategy,
+    ) -> &mut Self {
+        self.terms_matching_strategy = terms_matching_strategy;
         self
     }
 
@@ -232,7 +235,7 @@ impl<'a> QueryTreeBuilder<'a> {
     }
 
     /// Build the query tree:
-    /// - if `optional_words` is set to `false` the query tree will be
+    /// - if `terms_matching_strategy` is set to `All` the query tree will be
     ///   generated forcing all query words to be present in each matching documents
     ///   (the criterion `words` will be ignored)
     /// - if `authorize_typos` is set to `false` the query tree will be generated
@@ -247,7 +250,7 @@ impl<'a> QueryTreeBuilder<'a> {
         if !primitive_query.is_empty() {
             let qt = create_query_tree(
                 self,
-                self.optional_words,
+                self.terms_matching_strategy,
                 self.authorize_typos,
                 &primitive_query,
             )?;
@@ -332,7 +335,7 @@ fn synonyms(ctx: &impl Context, word: &[&str]) -> heed::Result<Option<Vec<Operat
 /// Main function that creates the final query tree from the primitive query.
 fn create_query_tree(
     ctx: &impl Context,
-    optional_words: TermsMatchingStrategy,
+    terms_matching_strategy: TermsMatchingStrategy,
     authorize_typos: bool,
     query: &[PrimitiveQueryPart],
 ) -> Result<Operation> {
@@ -455,7 +458,7 @@ fn create_query_tree(
     let mut operation_children = Vec::new();
     let mut query = query.to_vec();
     for _ in 0..remove_count {
-        let pos = match optional_words {
+        let pos = match terms_matching_strategy {
             TermsMatchingStrategy::All => return ngrams(ctx, authorize_typos, &query, false),
             TermsMatchingStrategy::Any => {
                 let operation = Operation::Or(
@@ -796,15 +799,19 @@ mod test {
     impl TestContext {
         fn build<A: AsRef<[u8]>>(
             &self,
-            optional_words: TermsMatchingStrategy,
+            terms_matching_strategy: TermsMatchingStrategy,
             authorize_typos: bool,
             words_limit: Option<usize>,
             query: ClassifiedTokenIter<A>,
         ) -> Result<Option<(Operation, PrimitiveQuery)>> {
             let primitive_query = create_primitive_query(query, None, words_limit);
             if !primitive_query.is_empty() {
-                let qt =
-                    create_query_tree(self, optional_words, authorize_typos, &primitive_query)?;
+                let qt = create_query_tree(
+                    self,
+                    terms_matching_strategy,
+                    authorize_typos,
+                    &primitive_query,
+                )?;
                 Ok(Some((qt, primitive_query)))
             } else {
                 Ok(None)
diff --git a/milli/src/update/index_documents/mod.rs b/milli/src/update/index_documents/mod.rs
index 3a8f961ac..23618b478 100644
--- a/milli/src/update/index_documents/mod.rs
+++ b/milli/src/update/index_documents/mod.rs
@@ -1208,7 +1208,7 @@ mod tests {
         let mut search = crate::Search::new(&rtxn, &index);
         search.query("document");
         search.authorize_typos(true);
-        search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+        search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
         // all documents should be returned
         let crate::SearchResult { documents_ids, .. } = search.execute().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(documents_ids.len(), 4);
@@ -1314,7 +1314,7 @@ mod tests {
         let mut search = crate::Search::new(&rtxn, &index);
         search.query("document");
         search.authorize_typos(true);
-        search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+        search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
         // all documents should be returned
         let crate::SearchResult { documents_ids, .. } = search.execute().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(documents_ids.len(), 4);
@@ -1513,7 +1513,7 @@ mod tests {
         let mut search = crate::Search::new(&rtxn, &index);
         search.query("化妆包");
         search.authorize_typos(true);
-        search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+        search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
 
         // only 1 document should be returned
         let crate::SearchResult { documents_ids, .. } = search.execute().unwrap();
diff --git a/milli/tests/search/distinct.rs b/milli/tests/search/distinct.rs
index 9e9905c3f..64dd16f09 100644
--- a/milli/tests/search/distinct.rs
+++ b/milli/tests/search/distinct.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ macro_rules! test_distinct {
             search.query(search::TEST_QUERY);
             search.limit(EXTERNAL_DOCUMENTS_IDS.len());
             search.authorize_typos(true);
-            search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+            search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
 
             let SearchResult { documents_ids, candidates, .. } = search.execute().unwrap();
 
diff --git a/milli/tests/search/filters.rs b/milli/tests/search/filters.rs
index 675004b56..18de24ac3 100644
--- a/milli/tests/search/filters.rs
+++ b/milli/tests/search/filters.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ macro_rules! test_filter {
             search.query(search::TEST_QUERY);
             search.limit(EXTERNAL_DOCUMENTS_IDS.len());
             search.authorize_typos(true);
-            search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+            search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
             search.filter(filter_conditions);
 
             let SearchResult { documents_ids, .. } = search.execute().unwrap();
diff --git a/milli/tests/search/query_criteria.rs b/milli/tests/search/query_criteria.rs
index 0fce7c6df..8b72c8420 100644
--- a/milli/tests/search/query_criteria.rs
+++ b/milli/tests/search/query_criteria.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ macro_rules! test_criterion {
             search.query(search::TEST_QUERY);
             search.limit(EXTERNAL_DOCUMENTS_IDS.len());
             search.authorize_typos($authorize_typos);
-            search.optional_words($optional_word);
+            search.terms_matching_strategy($optional_word);
             search.sort_criteria($sort_criteria);
 
             let SearchResult { documents_ids, .. } = search.execute().unwrap();
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ fn criteria_mixup() {
         let mut search = Search::new(&mut rtxn, &index);
         search.query(search::TEST_QUERY);
         search.limit(EXTERNAL_DOCUMENTS_IDS.len());
-        search.optional_words(ALLOW_OPTIONAL_WORDS);
+        search.terms_matching_strategy(ALLOW_OPTIONAL_WORDS);
         search.authorize_typos(ALLOW_TYPOS);
 
         let SearchResult { documents_ids, .. } = search.execute().unwrap();
diff --git a/milli/tests/search/sort.rs b/milli/tests/search/sort.rs
index eca0d2986..16d21eac8 100644
--- a/milli/tests/search/sort.rs
+++ b/milli/tests/search/sort.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ fn sort_ranking_rule_missing() {
     search.query(search::TEST_QUERY);
     search.limit(EXTERNAL_DOCUMENTS_IDS.len());
     search.authorize_typos(true);
-    search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+    search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
     search.sort_criteria(vec![AscDesc::Asc(Member::Field(S("tag")))]);
 
     let result = search.execute();
diff --git a/milli/tests/search/typo_tolerance.rs b/milli/tests/search/typo_tolerance.rs
index 7719cf34d..7dc6b0c4f 100644
--- a/milli/tests/search/typo_tolerance.rs
+++ b/milli/tests/search/typo_tolerance.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ fn test_typo_tolerance_one_typo() {
         search.query("zeal");
         search.limit(10);
         search.authorize_typos(true);
-        search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+        search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
 
         let result = search.execute().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(result.documents_ids.len(), 1);
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ fn test_typo_tolerance_one_typo() {
         search.query("zean");
         search.limit(10);
         search.authorize_typos(true);
-        search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+        search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
 
         let result = search.execute().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(result.documents_ids.len(), 0);
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ fn test_typo_tolerance_one_typo() {
     search.query("zean");
     search.limit(10);
     search.authorize_typos(true);
-    search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+    search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
 
     let result = search.execute().unwrap();
     assert_eq!(result.documents_ids.len(), 1);
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ fn test_typo_tolerance_two_typo() {
         search.query("zealand");
         search.limit(10);
         search.authorize_typos(true);
-        search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+        search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
 
         let result = search.execute().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(result.documents_ids.len(), 1);
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ fn test_typo_tolerance_two_typo() {
         search.query("zealemd");
         search.limit(10);
         search.authorize_typos(true);
-        search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+        search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
 
         let result = search.execute().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(result.documents_ids.len(), 0);
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ fn test_typo_tolerance_two_typo() {
     search.query("zealemd");
     search.limit(10);
     search.authorize_typos(true);
-    search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+    search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
 
     let result = search.execute().unwrap();
     assert_eq!(result.documents_ids.len(), 1);
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ fn test_typo_disabled_on_word() {
         search.query("zealand");
         search.limit(10);
         search.authorize_typos(true);
-        search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+        search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
 
         let result = search.execute().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(result.documents_ids.len(), 2);
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ fn test_typo_disabled_on_word() {
     search.query("zealand");
     search.limit(10);
     search.authorize_typos(true);
-    search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+    search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
 
     let result = search.execute().unwrap();
     assert_eq!(result.documents_ids.len(), 1);
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ fn test_disable_typo_on_attribute() {
         search.query("antebelum");
         search.limit(10);
         search.authorize_typos(true);
-        search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+        search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
 
         let result = search.execute().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(result.documents_ids.len(), 1);
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ fn test_disable_typo_on_attribute() {
     search.query("antebelum");
     search.limit(10);
     search.authorize_typos(true);
-    search.optional_words(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
+    search.terms_matching_strategy(TermsMatchingStrategy::default());
 
     let result = search.execute().unwrap();
     assert_eq!(result.documents_ids.len(), 0);