'aluminum-rich' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'aluminum' (a metal name) and the adjective-forming element '-rich' meaning 'abundant in'. 'Aluminum' itself was coined in New Latin from Latin 'alumen' meaning 'bitter salt', while '-rich' derives from Old English 'rice/ric' originally meaning 'powerful, wealthy' and later 'abundant'.

'aluminum' developed from Latin 'alumen' > New Latin 'alumen'/'alum' > 19th-century coinage 'aluminum' (US) and variant 'aluminium' (UK). The compound form 'aluminum-rich' follows English compounding patterns combining a material name with '-rich'.

Initially the components referred specifically to the metal 'aluminum' and the notion of abundance; the compound's meaning has remained stable as 'having a high aluminum content'.