'anovulatory' originates from modern medical/Neo-Latin formation: prefix 'an-' from Greek meaning 'not' + 'ovulatory' derived from Latin 'ovum' meaning 'egg' with the adjectival suffix '-ory'.

'anovulatory' was formed in English from the noun 'anovulation' (a medical formation combining 'an-' + 'ovulation') by adding the adjectival suffix '-ary/-ory' to produce the adjective meaning 'relating to anovulation'.

Initially coined to denote the absence of ovulation in medical contexts, the term has retained that specific meaning in contemporary usage.