'apagoges' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'ἀπάγωγες' (plural of 'ἀπάγωγη' / 'apagōgē'), where the prefix 'ἀπό-' (apo-) meant 'away' and the root 'ἄγειν' (agein) meant 'to lead'.

'apagoges' changed from the Ancient Greek plural 'ἀπάγωγες' and entered scholarly English usage via Medieval and Modern Latin and New Latin forms (e.g. 'apagoga', 'apagoge') before appearing in English texts as 'apagoge' and its plural 'apagoges'.

Initially, it meant 'leadings away' (literal sense), but over time in philosophical and logical contexts it evolved to mean a method of argument that 'leads away' from an assumption to show its absurdity (reductio ad absurdum).