'anotia' originates from New Latin, ultimately from Ancient Greek, specifically the prefix 'a-' meaning 'without' and the root 'ōt-' (from 'ous, otos') meaning 'ear'.

'anotia' was coined in medical New Latin from Greek elements ('a-' + 'ōt-') and was borrowed into English in the 19th–20th century with little change to form the modern medical term 'anotia'.

Initially it meant 'the state of being without an ear' and it has retained this specific medical meaning.