'Pterygotus-like' originates from Modern English formation by combining the scientific genus name 'Pterygotus' with the English adjectival suffix '-like' (meaning 'resembling').

'Pterygotus-like' was formed in modern scientific/English usage by attaching '-like' to the New Latin genus name 'Pterygotus' (used in zoological nomenclature); the name 'Pterygotus' itself is derived from Greek roots used in taxonomic naming.

Initially, 'Pterygotus' referred solely to the taxonomic genus name; adding '-like' created an adjective meaning 'resembling Pterygotus' and extended the term to descriptive usage in paleontology and comparative descriptions.