'approximate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'approximare', where 'ad-' meant 'to, toward' and 'proximus' meant 'nearest'.

'approximate' changed from Late Latin 'approximatus' (past participle of 'approximare') and Old French forms such as 'aproximat', and eventually became the modern English word 'approximate' via Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'to bring near' or 'to come near'; over time it evolved into its current senses: 'to estimate roughly' (verb) and 'near but not exact' (adjective).