'apobiotic' is formed from the Greek prefix 'apo-' meaning 'away from' or 'separate' and the element 'biotic' from Greek 'bios' meaning 'life'. It is a modern coinage using Greek components.

'apobiotic' was coined in scientific and technical usage by combining New Latin/Greek elements ('apo-' + 'biotic') rather than evolving through Old or Middle English; it appears as a specialized formation in modern scientific English.

Initially formed to convey the sense 'away from life' or 'separated from life'; it is used in contemporary usage to mean 'not supporting life' or 'non-living' in descriptions of environments or conditions.