'acrylate' originates from 'acrylic acid', specifically the word 'acrylic', where 'acryl-' referred to 'sharp' or 'pungent' due to its chemical properties.

'acrylic acid' was derived from the Latin word 'acer', meaning 'sharp', and eventually became the modern English word 'acrylate'.

Initially, it referred to the chemical properties of the acid, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a compound used in polymer production.