'apocarp' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'apocarpus', where 'apo-' meant 'away, separate' and 'karpos' meant 'fruit'.

'apocarp' changed from botanical Latin 'apocarpus' (from Greek elements) and was adopted into English usage in the 19th century in botanical descriptions, eventually becoming the modern English term 'apocarp'.

Initially, it meant 'having separate carpels (separate fruit)', and over time this specialized botanical meaning has been retained in modern usage to denote a flower or fruit with free (unfused) carpels.