'arrhinia' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically from the negative prefix 'a-' meaning 'without' and the root 'rhis/rhinos' meaning 'nose'.

'arrhinia' entered medical usage via New Latin/medical Latin as a term formed from Greek elements and was adopted into modern English medical vocabulary with the same form 'arrhinia'. The variant spelling 'arhinia' also appears in the literature.

Initially it meant 'without a nose' (literally), and over time it has retained this specific medical meaning of 'absence of the external nose'.