'ADH' originates from Modern English, specifically from the phrase 'antidiuretic hormone', where 'anti-' meant 'against' (from Greek), 'diuretic' derived via Latin/Greek roots referring to 'urination', and 'hormone' from Greek 'hormān' meaning 'that which sets in motion'.

The full term 'antidiuretic hormone' was established in medical usage in the 20th century to describe hormones that reduce urine output; the initialism 'ADH' was later formed by taking the initial letters of the three words and used as a convenient abbreviation in clinical and research contexts.

Initially it referred to any hormone observed to reduce urine production; with advances it became specifically associated with the peptide hormone also called 'vasopressin', though the basic sense of 'reduces urine/water loss' has remained.