'anisospore' originates from Greek elements, specifically 'anisos' and 'spora', where 'anisos' meant 'unequal' and 'spora' meant 'seed' or 'sowing'.

'anisospore' was formed in scientific New Latin/Neo‑Greek usage by combining Greek 'anisos' + 'spora' and entered English as a technical biological term in the modern scientific period.

Initially it literally meant 'unequal seed' (from the Greek roots), and over time it has been used specifically in biology to mean 'a spore differing in size or form from others.'