Alkanoylation refers to the process of adding an alkanoyl group to a molecule, typically by reacting it with an acid chloride or anhydride. Some common synonyms for this term include acylation and fatty acid acylation. Acylation refers to the addition of any acyl group, which can be derived from a carboxylic acid or other functional groups. Fatty acid acylation specifically refers to the addition of a fatty acid-derived acyl group, which typically consists of a long, hydrophobic alkyl chain. Other related terms include esterification, which involves the formation of an ester bond through a similar process of reacting a carboxylic acid with an alcohol, and transacylation, which involves the transfer of an acyl group from one molecule to another.