Definition

A type of polymer made up of a small number of repeating units called monomers, typically two to four.

Example

The scientist studied the properties of an oligomer to understand its behavior in chemical reactions.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of an oligomer?

Yeah, I think it’s a type of polymer, right?

Exactly! It consists of just a few monomers, like two to four.

That's interesting! I didn't know there were different types of polymers.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Oligomer → It is formed from "oligo-" (from Greek "oligos", meaning few or little) and "meros" (from Greek "meros", meaning part). The word "oligomer" refers to a molecule that consists of a few repeating units or parts.

Memory Tip

Think of 'few' ('oligo-') parts ('meros') coming together to form a larger structure — that's what an oligomer is.

Visually Confused Words