'androphilous' originates from New Latin or Modern Greek via New Latin, specifically the word 'androphilus' or Greek 'androphilos', where 'andr-' (from Greek 'anēr, andros') meant 'man' and 'phil-' (from Greek 'philos') meant 'loving'.

'androphilous' changed from New Latin 'androphilus' (formed from Greek elements) and eventually became the modern English word 'androphilous'.

Initially, it meant 'loving or having an affinity for men', and over time it has retained that basic sense, now used both in human sexual-orientation contexts and in technical biological descriptions of preference for males.