'areopagus' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the phrase 'Areios pagos' (Ἄρειος πάγος), where 'Areios' meant 'of Ares' (the god of war) and 'pagos' meant 'rock' or 'hill'.

'areopagus' passed into Latin as 'Areopagus', then into Medieval Latin and Middle English as 'Areopagus', and was adopted into Modern English with essentially the same form.

Initially it meant 'the hill of Ares' (a geographic location), but over time it also came to mean 'the council or court that met there' and, by extension, any high court or authoritative forum.