'aphototaxis' originates from Greek, specifically from the privative prefix 'a-' meaning 'not/without', 'phōs' (φῶς) meaning 'light', and 'taxis' (τάξις) meaning 'arrangement' or 'movement'.

'phototaxis' entered scientific English from New Latin/Greek elements ('phōs' + 'taxis'), and 'aphototaxis' was formed later by prefixing the privative 'a-' to 'phototaxis' to indicate the lack of such movement.

Initially the root 'phototaxis' described movement in response to light; adding the privative 'a-' produced 'aphototaxis' to denote the absence (or lack) of that response. Over time the term has been used primarily in biology to describe organisms that do not show directed movement relative to light.