'achirality' originates from Greek via modern scientific coinage, specifically from the Greek root 'cheir' (Greek: χείρ) meaning 'hand' and the prefix 'a-' meaning 'not'.

'achirality' changed from the adjective 'achiral' (formed by prefixing 'a-' to 'chiral'; 'chiral' was coined in the 19th century from Greek 'cheir') and eventually became the modern English noun 'achirality'.

Initially, it meant 'not having handedness' (i.e., lacking the property of being chiral); over time it has retained this technical meaning referring to absence of chirality.