'atomics' originates from Modern English, specifically the adjective 'atomic' formed from 'atom' + suffix '-ic' (where 'atom' came from Greek 'atomos' meaning 'indivisible' and '-ic' meant 'relating to').

'atomics' developed as a noun form in the 19th–20th century from the adjective 'atomic' (from New Latin/Modern English 'atomicus' / 'atomic'), which itself comes from Greek 'atomos' via Latin and Middle French influences; the plural noun use (to name fields or operations) is modern.

Initially related to 'things of or relating to atoms' (adjective); over time a noun use emerged meaning either 'the study of atoms' or, in computing, 'indivisible operations' (plural).