'androgen-blocking' is a compound formed from 'androgen' + present participle 'blocking'. 'Androgen' comes from Greek elements 'andr(o)-' meaning 'male' and '-gen' meaning 'to produce' (via modern scientific coinage), while 'block' derives from Middle Dutch/Old French words such as 'bloc' meaning 'block, piece of wood', later used as a verb meaning 'to obstruct'.

'androgen' was coined in the early 20th century in scientific/medical usage from Greek roots and entered English via international scientific vocabulary; 'block' evolved from Middle Dutch/Old French 'bloc' into English as 'block' (Middle English) and later formed the verbal sense 'to obstruct'. The compound 'androgen-blocking' is a modern medical formation combining the noun with a participial adjective.

Initially, components referred to 'male-producing' ('androgen') and a physical 'block' or obstruction ('block'); over time they combined in medical contexts to mean 'inhibiting or preventing the action/production of male hormones', a biochemical or therapeutic sense rather than a purely physical obstruction.