'apometabolous' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'apo-' and 'metabolē', where 'apo-' meant 'away from' and 'metabolē' meant 'change'.

'apometabolous' was formed in New Latin/Neo-Latin scientific terminology from the Greek roots 'apo-' + 'metabolē' and was adopted into English as a technical biological term describing insect development.

Initially constructed to denote relation to 'change' or 'departure from change,' it came to be used specifically to mean 'lacking metamorphosis' in entomological contexts.