'alkaline-sensitive' originates from English as a compound of 'alkaline' and 'sensitive'. 'alkaline' ultimately comes (via Medieval/Modern Latin and French) from Arabic 'al-qaly' (al- 'the' + qaly 'ashes of saltwort'), and 'sensitive' comes from Latin 'sensitivus' (from 'sentire' meaning 'to feel').

'alkaline' entered English through Late/Medieval Latin 'alkali' and Old French forms such as 'alcalin' before becoming Modern English 'alkaline'. 'sensitive' passed from Latin into Old French and Middle English as words meaning 'able to perceive' and then 'readily affected', and the modern compound 'alkaline-sensitive' arose in scientific and technical English to describe materials affected by alkaline (basic) environments.

Initially 'alkaline' referred to substances obtained from plant ashes and later came to mean 'basic' (higher pH) in chemistry; 'sensitive' originally meant 'capable of feeling' and broadened to mean 'easily affected' — together now mean 'easily affected by alkaline (basic) conditions'.