'astaticism' originates from New Latin 'astaticus' (formed in scientific Latin), ultimately from Greek elements where 'a-' meant 'not' and the root related to 'stasis'/'statikos' meant 'standing' or 'causing to stand'.

'astaticism' developed via New Latin 'astaticus' (used in scientific contexts) and then entered English as the noun formed with the suffix '-ism' to denote the state or condition ('astaticism').

Initially the Greek-derived elements conveyed the idea of 'not standing' or 'not fixed'; over time in scientific usage this evolved into the technical sense of 'absence of a steady magnetic effect' or 'magnetic neutrality'.