diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 26b85b5..638db4d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ my_vcr = vcr.VCR(
     serializer = 'json',
     cassette_library_dir = 'fixtures/cassettes',
     record_mode = 'once',
-    match_on = ['url', 'method'],
+    match_on = ['uri', 'method'],
 )
 
 with my_vcr.use_cassette('test.json'):
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_matchers.py b/tests/integration/test_matchers.py
index c4b7999..007a844 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_matchers.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_matchers.py
@@ -25,18 +25,18 @@ def test_method_matcher(cassette):
             urlopen('http://httpbin.org/post', data=b'')  # is a POST request
 
 
-def test_url_matcher(cassette):
+def test_uri_matcher(cassette):
     # prepare cassete
-    with vcr.use_cassette(cassette, match_on=['url']) as cass:
+    with vcr.use_cassette(cassette, match_on=['uri']) as cass:
         urlopen('http://httpbin.org/get?p1=q1&p2=q2')
         assert len(cass) == 1
 
-    # play cassette with matching on url
-    with vcr.use_cassette(cassette, match_on=['url']) as cass:
+    # play cassette with matching on uri
+    with vcr.use_cassette(cassette, match_on=['uri']) as cass:
         urlopen('http://httpbin.org/get?p1=q1&p2=q2')
         assert cass.play_count == 1
 
-    # should fail if url does not match
+    # should fail if uri does not match
     with pytest.raises(vcr.errors.CannotOverwriteExistingCassetteException):
-        with vcr.use_cassette(cassette, match_on=['url']) as cass:
+        with vcr.use_cassette(cassette, match_on=['uri']) as cass:
             urlopen('http://httpbin.org/get?p2=q2&p1=q1')
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_matchers.py b/tests/unit/test_matchers.py
index ae29c8a..0d53fd7 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_matchers.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_matchers.py
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ def assert_matcher(matcher_name):
             assert matched
 
 
-def test_url_matcher():
+def test_uri_matcher():
     for k1, k2 in itertools.permutations(REQUESTS, 2):
-        matched = matchers.url(REQUESTS[k1], REQUESTS[k2])
+        matched = matchers.uri(REQUESTS[k1], REQUESTS[k2])
         if set((k1, k2)) != set(('base', 'method')):
             assert not matched
         else:
diff --git a/vcr/cassette.py b/vcr/cassette.py
index df6a64b..f71bf03 100644
--- a/vcr/cassette.py
+++ b/vcr/cassette.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from .patch import install, reset
 from .persist import load_cassette, save_cassette
 from .filters import filter_request
 from .serializers import yamlserializer
-from .matchers import requests_match, url, method
+from .matchers import requests_match, uri, method
 from .errors import UnhandledHTTPRequestError
 
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class Cassette(ContextDecorator):
                  path,
                  serializer=yamlserializer,
                  record_mode='once',
-                 match_on=[url, method],
+                 match_on=[uri, method]):
                  filter_headers=[],
                  filter_query_parameters=[],
                  before_record=None,
diff --git a/vcr/config.py b/vcr/config.py
index 8feb0c2..e8848ff 100644
--- a/vcr/config.py
+++ b/vcr/config.py
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ class VCR(object):
         }
         self.matchers = {
             'method': matchers.method,
-            'url': matchers.url,
+            'uri': matchers.uri,
+            'url': matchers.uri,  # matcher for backwards compatibility
             'scheme': matchers.scheme,
             'host': matchers.host,
             'port': matchers.method,
diff --git a/vcr/matchers.py b/vcr/matchers.py
index 1918652..c471538 100644
--- a/vcr/matchers.py
+++ b/vcr/matchers.py
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ def method(r1, r2):
     return r1.method == r2.method
 
 
-def url(r1, r2):
-    return r1.url == r2.url
+def uri(r1, r2):
+    return r1.uri == r2.uri
 
 
 def host(r1, r2):