'arbitrable' originates from English, specifically formed from the verb 'arbitrate' plus the adjectival suffix '-able'; 'arbitrate' ultimately comes from Latin 'arbiter' meaning 'judge', and '-able' comes from Latin '-abilis' meaning 'able to be'.

'arbitrable' developed in modern English from the verb 'arbitrate' (via Old French 'arbitrer' from Latin 'arbiter') combined with the suffix '-able' (from Latin '-abilis'), producing the adjective meaning 'able to be decided by an arbiter'.

Initially related generally to being judged or decided by an arbiter, the term came to be used in legal contexts to mean specifically 'capable of being resolved through arbitration rather than by a court'.