'Remonstrantism' ultimately derives from Latin and Dutch: from Latin 'remonstrant-' (present participle of 'remonstrare', meaning 'to show, point out, protest') and the Dutch term 'Remonstranten' for the followers who issued the Remonstrance of 1610.

'Remonstrantism' developed as a noun referring to the movement of the 'Remonstranten' (Dutch). The Latin verb 'remonstrare' passed into Old French as 'remonstrer' and into English/Middle Dutch usage; in the early 17th century the Dutch 'Remonstranten' named themselves after the 'Remonstrance', and English then adopted 'Remonstrant' and later 'Remonstrantism' to denote the movement and its doctrines.

Originally related to the act of 'protesting' or 'pointing out' (from Latin 'remonstrare'), the term came to denote specifically the followers and doctrinal position of the Dutch Arminian movement; over time it has been used chiefly as a historical/theological label.