'anisodonty' originates from modern scientific coinage combining Greek elements, specifically 'aniso-' from Greek 'anisos' meaning 'unequal' and 'odont-' from Greek 'odous/odontos' meaning 'tooth'.

'anisodonty' was formed in New Latin/Modern English by joining the Greek roots 'anisos' + 'odont-' following classical formation patterns for scientific terms; it entered technical English usage as 'anisodonty' without major intermediate vernacular forms.

Initially it meant 'unequal-toothed' in the literal Greek-derived sense, and over time it has retained that technical meaning in biology and dentistry.