'anhydrobiosis' originates from modern scientific coinage (Neo-Latin / Greek elements), specifically the elements 'an-' meaning 'without', 'hydro-' from Greek 'hudōr' meaning 'water', and 'biosis' from Greek 'bios' meaning 'life'.

'anhydrobiosis' was coined in 20th-century biological literature by combining Greek-derived elements rather than evolving through Old or Middle English; it is a modern compound formed for scientific description.

Initially it literally meant 'life without water'; over time it has come to denote the biological phenomenon of desiccation-induced suspended animation (often reversible upon rehydration) rather than absolute, permanent absence of water.