'anodontia' originates from Greek roots: the prefix 'an-' meaning 'without' and 'odont-' (from Greek 'odous/odont-') meaning 'tooth'.

'anodontia' was formed in New Latin/medical terminology from the Greek elements 'an-' + 'odont-' and entered English usage via medical Latin in the 19th century.

Initially it meant 'without teeth' (literally 'no teeth'); over time it has been used specifically in medicine to denote the congenital absence or failure of tooth development.