'angiogenesis-inhibiting' originates from modern English formation combining Greek 'angio-' (from Greek 'angeion' meaning 'vessel'), Greek 'genesis' (from Greek 'genesis' meaning 'origin' or 'birth'), and the English present participle 'inhibiting' (from Latin 'inhibere', where 'in-' meant 'in/on' and 'hibere' meant 'to hold back').

'angiogenesis' entered scientific English via New Latin in the 20th century from Greek roots; 'inhibit' comes from Latin 'inhibere' through Old French/Middle English into modern English. The compound adjective 'angiogenesis-inhibiting' developed in modern biomedical usage to describe agents or processes that block vessel formation.

Initially formed to mean 'blocking the process of blood-vessel formation', the term has retained that specialized biomedical meaning and is now used to describe drugs, proteins, or processes that prevent new blood vessel growth.