'approximative' originates from French, specifically the word 'approximatif', which in turn comes from Late Latin 'approximativus' and ultimately from Latin 'approximare', where 'ad-' meant 'toward' and 'proximus' meant 'nearest'.

'approximative' changed from the French word 'approximatif' (and Medieval/ Late Latin 'approximativus') and eventually became the modern English word 'approximative'.

Initially it meant 'making or bringing near' (from the literal sense of 'to make near'), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'not exact; close to the actual'.