'adhesiolysis' originates from modern medical formation combining the English/Latin-derived word 'adhesion' (from Latin 'adhaesio') and the Greek word 'lysis', where the Latin root 'adhaerēre' (ad- + haerēre) meant 'to stick to' and the Greek 'lysis' meant 'loosening' or 'dissolution'.

'adhesiolysis' was formed in modern medical English by joining 'adhesion' (from Latin 'adhaesio') with Greek 'lysis'; this compound term arose in clinical usage to name the procedure of separating adhesions and became established as 'adhesiolysis'.

Initially the components meant 'sticking together' (adhesion) and 'loosening' (lysis); over time the compound came to specifically denote the medical procedure of 'surgically loosening or removing adhesions'.