Oligosaccharides are carbohydrates that are made up of a small number of monosaccharide units. There are various synonyms that can be used for the word oligosaccharides, including oligomers, glyconnectives, glycans, and complex sugars. These synonyms are commonly used in scientific literature and research papers to describe the chemical structure and function of oligosaccharides. Oligomers refer to small molecules that are composed of repeating subunits, while glycans and glyconnectives are used to describe the glycosidic bonds that link together multiple monosaccharide units within a larger carbohydrate structure. Regardless of the terminology used, oligosaccharides play a vital role in a wide range of biological functions, including cell signaling and energy storage.