'arteriomalacia' originates from Greek roots via New Latin: specifically from Greek 'arteria' (through Latin 'arteria') meaning 'artery' and Greek 'malakia' meaning 'softness'.

'arteriomalacia' was formed in New Latin by combining the Greek components 'arteria' + 'malakia' and entered medical English usage in the 19th century as a technical pathological term.

Initially it referred literally to 'softness of an artery'; over time it has been maintained as the medical term for the pathological softening or degeneration of arterial walls.