'animal-safe' originates from Modern English, formed by compounding 'animal' and 'safe'. 'Animal' ultimately comes from Latin, specifically the word 'animalis', where 'anima' meant 'breath' or 'soul'; 'safe' comes via Old French 'sauf' from Latin 'salvus', meaning 'uninjured' or 'healthy'.

'animal' changed from Latin 'animalis' to Old French 'animal' and then into Middle English as 'animal'; 'safe' came from Latin 'salvus' to Old French 'sauf' and into Middle English as 'safe'. The compound 'animal-safe' developed in modern English by combining these two words to describe products or situations that are not harmful to animals.

Initially, 'animal' referred to a living being and 'safe' meant 'uninjured' or 'secure'; over time the compound came to be used specifically to indicate that something does not harm animals — i.e., 'not harmful to animals'.