'archaeomagnetic' originates from Greek elements: 'arkhaios' (ancient) and 'magnētikos' (pertaining to a magnet); the modern English adjective is formed by combining the prefix 'archaeo-' with 'magnetic'.

'archaeomagnetic' was formed in modern scientific English by combining 'archaeo-' (from Greek 'arkhaios') with 'magnetic' (from Greek 'magnētikos' via Latin), following the earlier formation of the noun 'archaeomagnetism' in the 20th century.

Initially it broadly referred to magnetic properties of ancient materials; over time it came to be used specifically for techniques, measurements, and interpretations used in archaeomagnetism (for example, archaeomagnetic dating).