'apodidae' originates from Modern/New Latin, formed from Greek 'apous' meaning 'without feet' (from a- 'without' + pous 'foot') plus the family-name suffix '-idae'.

'apous' (Greek) was Latinized in scientific nomenclature and combined with the standard taxonomic suffix '-idae' in New Latin to produce 'Apodidae', the family name used in modern biological classification.

Originally describing the notion 'without feet' (referring to the very small legs of these birds), it evolved into a taxonomic family name referring to swifts and related species.