'androgen-inhibiting' originates from English, formed by combining 'androgen' and the present-participle form 'inhibiting'. 'androgen' ultimately derives from Greek roots ('andr-' meaning 'man' and '-gen' meaning 'producer' or 'that which generates'), and 'inhibiting' comes from Latin 'inhibere', where 'in-' meant 'in' or 'into' and 'hibere' meant 'to hold' or 'to restrain'.

'androgen' was coined in New Latin/Modern scientific usage in the late 19th century from Greek elements and entered English as a technical term; 'inhibit' comes from Latin 'inhibere' via Medieval/Neo-Latin usage and developed into the English verb 'inhibit', from which the participle 'inhibiting' is formed; the compound adjective 'androgen-inhibiting' is a later English formation used in medical and scientific contexts.

Initially the components referred separately to 'male-producing agent' and 'to hold back'; when combined as 'androgen-inhibiting' the meaning became the specific technical sense 'acting to block or suppress androgens', which has remained stable in medical usage.