'apogee' originates from French, specifically the word 'apogée', where the Greek prefix 'apo-' originally meant 'away from' and the root 'ge/gaia' meant 'earth'.

'apogee' changed from Greek 'ἀπόγαιον' (apogaion) through Late Latin 'apogaeum' and Old French 'apogée', and eventually became the modern English word 'apogee'.

Initially it referred specifically to the point 'away from the earth' (the farthest point in an orbit), but over time the meaning expanded figuratively to 'the highest point' or 'culmination' of anything.