'anabolic' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'anabolē', where 'ana-' meant 'up' and 'ballein' meant 'to throw'.

'anabolē' passed into New Latin and later into Modern Latin scientific usage as 'anabolicus', and the English adjective 'anabolic' was formed in the 19th century; the plural noun 'anabolics' developed in English to refer to anabolic substances.

Initially it meant 'a raising up' or 'the act of building up', but over time it came to refer specifically to biological/chemical processes and substances that 'promote tissue build-up' (especially anabolic steroids).