'aponogetonaceous' originates from modern botanical New Latin, specifically from the family name 'Aponogetonaceae' (built from the genus name 'Aponogeton') combined with the Latin adjectival suffix '-aceous' (from Latin '-aceus') meaning 'of or pertaining to'.

'Aponogeton' was coined as a botanical genus name in New Latin from classical-language roots and then formed into the family name 'Aponogetonaceae'; the English adjective was produced by adding the suffix '-aceous' to denote relation to that family.

Initially a formation to indicate taxonomic relation to the family Aponogetonaceae; in use it denotes both strict taxonomic relation and broader resemblance or characteristic of Aponogeton plants.