'apteroid' is a modern English formation combining the Greek-derived prefix 'apter-' from 'apteros' meaning 'without wings' and the suffix '-oid' from Greek 'eidos' meaning 'form' or 'likeness'.

'apteroid' was coined in modern scientific English by combining the element from Greek 'apteros' (via New Latin/Neo-classical formations such as 'apterous') with the productive suffix '-oid'; it follows formations like 'haploid' or 'humanoid' and entered usage in descriptive biology and paleontology.

Originally formed to mean 'resembling an apterous (wingless) form', its usage has remained consistent and continues to denote 'wingless' or 'resembling wingless forms' in technical descriptions.