'aldolization' originates from the combination of 'aldol' and the suffix '-ization', where 'aldol' refers to a type of organic compound formed by the reaction of an aldehyde and a ketone.

'aldol' changed from the German word 'Aldehydalkohol' and eventually became the modern English word 'aldol'.

Initially, it referred to the formation of aldol compounds, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of the process of forming β-hydroxy aldehydes or ketones.