'acetylcellulose' originates from 'acetyl' and 'cellulose', where 'acetyl' refers to the acetyl group (CH3CO) and 'cellulose' is a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of β(1→4) linked D-glucose units.

'acetylcellulose' was derived from the combination of 'acetyl' and 'cellulose' in the early 20th century to describe the chemical compound used in various industrial applications.

Initially, it meant 'a cellulose derivative with acetyl groups', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.