'pterygote' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'pteryx' (Greek: πτέρυξ), where the root 'pteryg-' meant 'wing'.

'pterygote' changed from New Latin 'Pterygota' used in entomology and eventually became the modern English word 'pterygote' referring to members of that group.

Initially it meant 'having wings' (literally 'winged'); over time it came to denote the taxonomic group of insects characterized by having wings or deriving from winged ancestors.