The family Osmeridae consists of fish commonly known as smelts. They belong to the order Osmeriformes and are found in both saltwater and freshwater environments. While the word "smelt" is the most commonly used term to describe these fish, there are other synonyms that can be used. These include rainbow smelt, European smelt, lake smelt, and pond smelt. The use of synonyms is useful for scientific classification purposes and also for communicating with people in different regions who may use different words to describe the same thing. Overall, the family Osmeridae is a diverse and important group of fish that play a significant role in both commercial and recreational fishing industries.