'apterygote' originates from New Latin (scientific Latin), specifically the taxonomic name 'Apterygota,' where the prefix 'a-' meant 'without' and the root 'pteryg-' (from Greek) meant 'wing'.

'apterygote' derives from Greek 'apterygōtēs' (ἀπτερυγότης) meaning 'without wings', passed into New Latin as 'Apterygota' for a group of wingless insects, and later adopted into English as 'apterygote' and 'Apterygota' in entomological usage.

Initially it referred broadly to 'without wings' and specifically to a taxonomic grouping of primitive wingless insects; over time the term retained the core meaning 'wingless' while taxonomic usage has been revised as insect classification changed.