'anomalistic' originates from Greek via Late Latin/Modern English, specifically the Greek word 'anomalos', where 'an-' meant 'not' and 'homalos' (or 'omalos') meant 'even' or 'level'.

'anomalistic' developed from the Greek noun/adj. 'anomalia'/'anomalos' which passed into Late Latin as 'anomalĭa'/'anomalus', entered Middle English as 'anomaly'/'anomalous', and later took the English adjectival suffix '-istic' to form 'anomalistic'.

Initially it meant 'uneven' or 'irregular' in a physical or literal sense; over time it evolved to mean 'relating to anomalies' and, in modern usage, can also describe phenomena studied as apparently paranormal but approached as natural occurrences.