diff --git a/MIGRATION_GUIDE.md b/MIGRATION_GUIDE.md
index 027600a765..87a81313eb 100644
--- a/MIGRATION_GUIDE.md
+++ b/MIGRATION_GUIDE.md
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ Looking to upgrade from Sentry SDK 2.x to 3.x? Here's a comprehensive list of wh
   - `same_process_as_parent`
   - `span_id`
   - `parent_span_id`: you can supply a `parent_span` instead
-- Setting `Scope.transaction` directly is no longer supported. Use `Scope.set_transaction_name()` instead.
+- The `Scope.transaction` property has been removed. To obtain the root span (previously transaction), use `Scope.root_span`. To set the root span's (transaction's) name, use `Scope.set_transaction_name()`.
 - Passing a list or `None` for `failed_request_status_codes` in the Starlette integration is no longer supported. Pass a set of integers instead.
 - The `span` argument of `Scope.trace_propagation_meta` is no longer supported.
 - Setting `Scope.user` directly is no longer supported. Use `Scope.set_user()` instead.
diff --git a/sentry_sdk/api.py b/sentry_sdk/api.py
index ca4ad3846a..475bbf5ef5 100644
--- a/sentry_sdk/api.py
+++ b/sentry_sdk/api.py
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ def start_transaction(
 
 def set_measurement(name, value, unit=""):
     # type: (str, float, MeasurementUnit) -> None
-    transaction = get_current_scope().transaction
+    transaction = get_current_scope().root_span
     if transaction is not None:
         transaction.set_measurement(name, value, unit)
 
diff --git a/sentry_sdk/client.py b/sentry_sdk/client.py
index f2acb8d489..c4599cd840 100644
--- a/sentry_sdk/client.py
+++ b/sentry_sdk/client.py
@@ -858,7 +858,7 @@ def _capture_experimental_log(self, current_scope, log):
             log["attributes"]["sentry.trace.parent_span_id"] = span.span_id
 
         if log.get("trace_id") is None:
-            transaction = current_scope.transaction
+            transaction = current_scope.root_span
             propagation_context = isolation_scope.get_active_propagation_context()
             if transaction is not None:
                 log["trace_id"] = transaction.trace_id
diff --git a/sentry_sdk/integrations/arq.py b/sentry_sdk/integrations/arq.py
index ee80d211f5..e9dd9d92ac 100644
--- a/sentry_sdk/integrations/arq.py
+++ b/sentry_sdk/integrations/arq.py
@@ -127,12 +127,12 @@ def _capture_exception(exc_info):
     # type: (ExcInfo) -> None
     scope = sentry_sdk.get_current_scope()
 
-    if scope.transaction is not None:
+    if scope.root_span is not None:
         if exc_info[0] in ARQ_CONTROL_FLOW_EXCEPTIONS:
-            scope.transaction.set_status(SPANSTATUS.ABORTED)
+            scope.root_span.set_status(SPANSTATUS.ABORTED)
             return
 
-        scope.transaction.set_status(SPANSTATUS.INTERNAL_ERROR)
+        scope.root_span.set_status(SPANSTATUS.INTERNAL_ERROR)
 
     event, hint = event_from_exception(
         exc_info,
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@ def event_processor(event, hint):
 
         with capture_internal_exceptions():
             scope = sentry_sdk.get_current_scope()
-            if scope.transaction is not None:
-                scope.transaction.name = ctx["job_name"]
+            if scope.root_span is not None:
+                scope.root_span.name = ctx["job_name"]
                 event["transaction"] = ctx["job_name"]
 
             tags = event.setdefault("tags", {})
diff --git a/sentry_sdk/integrations/django/asgi.py b/sentry_sdk/integrations/django/asgi.py
index 0ca1c080fd..511de34855 100644
--- a/sentry_sdk/integrations/django/asgi.py
+++ b/sentry_sdk/integrations/django/asgi.py
@@ -176,8 +176,8 @@ def wrap_async_view(callback):
     async def sentry_wrapped_callback(request, *args, **kwargs):
         # type: (Any, *Any, **Any) -> Any
         current_scope = sentry_sdk.get_current_scope()
-        if current_scope.transaction is not None:
-            current_scope.transaction.update_active_thread()
+        if current_scope.root_span is not None:
+            current_scope.root_span.update_active_thread()
 
         sentry_scope = sentry_sdk.get_isolation_scope()
         if sentry_scope.profile is not None:
diff --git a/sentry_sdk/integrations/django/views.py b/sentry_sdk/integrations/django/views.py
index aa2140764c..6240ac6bbb 100644
--- a/sentry_sdk/integrations/django/views.py
+++ b/sentry_sdk/integrations/django/views.py
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ def _wrap_sync_view(callback):
     def sentry_wrapped_callback(request, *args, **kwargs):
         # type: (Any, *Any, **Any) -> Any
         current_scope = sentry_sdk.get_current_scope()
-        if current_scope.transaction is not None:
-            current_scope.transaction.update_active_thread()
+        if current_scope.root_span is not None:
+            current_scope.root_span.update_active_thread()
 
         sentry_scope = sentry_sdk.get_isolation_scope()
         # set the active thread id to the handler thread for sync views
diff --git a/sentry_sdk/integrations/fastapi.py b/sentry_sdk/integrations/fastapi.py
index 76c6adee0f..4a0080c6fd 100644
--- a/sentry_sdk/integrations/fastapi.py
+++ b/sentry_sdk/integrations/fastapi.py
@@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ def _sentry_get_request_handler(*args, **kwargs):
             def _sentry_call(*args, **kwargs):
                 # type: (*Any, **Any) -> Any
                 current_scope = sentry_sdk.get_current_scope()
-                if current_scope.transaction is not None:
-                    current_scope.transaction.update_active_thread()
+                if current_scope.root_span is not None:
+                    current_scope.root_span.update_active_thread()
 
                 sentry_scope = sentry_sdk.get_isolation_scope()
                 if sentry_scope.profile is not None:
diff --git a/sentry_sdk/integrations/huey.py b/sentry_sdk/integrations/huey.py
index 8e9d45a526..fcdbd4f9f9 100644
--- a/sentry_sdk/integrations/huey.py
+++ b/sentry_sdk/integrations/huey.py
@@ -111,10 +111,10 @@ def _capture_exception(exc_info):
     scope = sentry_sdk.get_current_scope()
 
     if exc_info[0] in HUEY_CONTROL_FLOW_EXCEPTIONS:
-        scope.transaction.set_status(SPANSTATUS.ABORTED)
+        scope.root_span.set_status(SPANSTATUS.ABORTED)
         return
 
-    scope.transaction.set_status(SPANSTATUS.INTERNAL_ERROR)
+    scope.root_span.set_status(SPANSTATUS.INTERNAL_ERROR)
     event, hint = event_from_exception(
         exc_info,
         client_options=sentry_sdk.get_client().options,
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ def _sentry_execute(*args, **kwargs):
             _capture_exception(exc_info)
             reraise(*exc_info)
         else:
-            sentry_sdk.get_current_scope().transaction.set_status(SPANSTATUS.OK)
+            sentry_sdk.get_current_scope().root_span.set_status(SPANSTATUS.OK)
 
         return result
 
diff --git a/sentry_sdk/integrations/quart.py b/sentry_sdk/integrations/quart.py
index 51306bb4cd..f7f8ce7902 100644
--- a/sentry_sdk/integrations/quart.py
+++ b/sentry_sdk/integrations/quart.py
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ def decorator(old_func):
                 def _sentry_func(*args, **kwargs):
                     # type: (*Any, **Any) -> Any
                     current_scope = sentry_sdk.get_current_scope()
-                    if current_scope.transaction is not None:
-                        current_scope.transaction.update_active_thread()
+                    if current_scope.root_span is not None:
+                        current_scope.root_span.update_active_thread()
 
                     sentry_scope = sentry_sdk.get_isolation_scope()
                     if sentry_scope.profile is not None:
diff --git a/sentry_sdk/integrations/starlette.py b/sentry_sdk/integrations/starlette.py
index e75889ea38..bdb842f596 100644
--- a/sentry_sdk/integrations/starlette.py
+++ b/sentry_sdk/integrations/starlette.py
@@ -477,8 +477,8 @@ def _sentry_sync_func(*args, **kwargs):
                     return old_func(*args, **kwargs)
 
                 current_scope = sentry_sdk.get_current_scope()
-                if current_scope.transaction is not None:
-                    current_scope.transaction.update_active_thread()
+                if current_scope.root_span is not None:
+                    current_scope.root_span.update_active_thread()
 
                 sentry_scope = sentry_sdk.get_isolation_scope()
                 if sentry_scope.profile is not None:
diff --git a/sentry_sdk/scope.py b/sentry_sdk/scope.py
index 4d69b2ff68..487b45b583 100644
--- a/sentry_sdk/scope.py
+++ b/sentry_sdk/scope.py
@@ -688,10 +688,10 @@ def fingerprint(self, value):
         self._fingerprint = value
 
     @property
-    def transaction(self):
+    def root_span(self):
         # type: () -> Any
         # would be type: () -> Optional[Span], see https://github.com/python/mypy/issues/3004
-        """Return the transaction (root span) in the scope, if any."""
+        """Return the root span in the scope, if any."""
 
         # there is no span/transaction on the scope
         if self._span is None:
diff --git a/tests/test_scope.py b/tests/test_scope.py
index 98b9320944..c5a2d9380e 100644
--- a/tests/test_scope.py
+++ b/tests/test_scope.py
@@ -915,3 +915,18 @@ def test_last_event_id_cleared(sentry_init):
     Scope.get_isolation_scope().clear()
 
     assert Scope.last_event_id() is None, "last_event_id should be cleared"
+
+
+def test_root_span(sentry_init):
+    sentry_init(traces_sample_rate=1.0)
+
+    assert sentry_sdk.get_current_scope().root_span is None
+
+    with sentry_sdk.start_span(name="test") as root_span:
+        assert sentry_sdk.get_current_scope().root_span == root_span
+        with sentry_sdk.start_span(name="child"):
+            assert sentry_sdk.get_current_scope().root_span == root_span
+            with sentry_sdk.start_span(name="grandchild"):
+                assert sentry_sdk.get_current_scope().root_span == root_span
+
+    assert sentry_sdk.get_current_scope().root_span is None