'anomoean' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anomoeos' (from ἀ- 'not' + ὅμοιος 'homoios' meaning 'similar'), where the prefix 'a-' meant 'not' and 'homoios' meant 'similar'.

'anomoean' changed from Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'anomoeus' (used in theological Latin) and from Greek 'anomoeos', and eventually became the English adjective and noun 'anomoean' referring to the sect and its doctrines.

Initially it meant 'not similar' or 'dissimilar' (from the Greek root), but over time it came to refer specifically to members of the theological group and their doctrine that the Son was dissimilar to the Father.