'annonaceae' originates from New Latin, specifically the botanical family name formed from the genus 'Annona' plus the Latin suffix '-aceae' meaning 'family'.

'annonaceae' developed as a botanical-family name by adding the Latin suffix '-aceae' to the genus name 'Annona'; the genus name 'Annona' itself was borrowed into scientific Latin from Spanish/Portuguese 'anona', ultimately from Taíno 'anón/anon' referring to the custard-apple fruit.

Initially the root referred to the fruit (and then the genus 'Annona'); over time the term was extended to denote the entire family of related flowering plants now called 'annonaceae'.