'anhedonic' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'an-' meaning 'not, without' and 'hēdonē' meaning 'pleasure,' with the adjective suffix '-ic'; it entered English via New Latin 'anhedonia.'

'anhedonia' was formed in New Latin from Greek roots and entered English in the late 19th century; the adjective 'anhedonic' subsequently developed in English to describe states or symptoms characterized by anhedonia.

Initially, it meant 'without pleasure' in a clinical sense, and it has retained this core meaning, now widely used in psychology and psychiatry to denote reduced capacity for pleasure.