'aluminum-free' is a compound of 'aluminum' and 'free'. 'aluminum' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'alumen', where 'alumen' meant 'alum'. 'free' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'frēo', where 'frēo' meant 'free, exempt'.

'aluminum' was proposed in the early 19th century (variants included 'alumium' and later 'aluminium'); the form 'aluminum' became established in American English while 'aluminium' became common in British English. The compound adjective 'aluminum-free' (and the UK variant 'aluminium-free') developed in the 20th century to describe products made without the metal or its compounds.

Initially the root 'alumen' referred to the chemical substance 'alum'; over time the element name 'aluminum' came to refer to the metal itself, and 'aluminum-free' evolved to mean 'without aluminum (metal or aluminum-based compounds)' in modern usage.