'apetaloid' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'apetaloides', where the prefix 'a-' meant 'without', the root 'petal-' (from Greek 'petalon') meant 'leaf, petal', and the suffix '-oid' (from Greek 'eidos') meant 'having the form of'.

'apetaloid' changed from the Neo-Latin word 'apetaloides' and eventually became the modern English word 'apetaloid'.

Initially, it meant 'resembling a condition without petals', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'lacking petals or petal-like structures'.