'atomisation' originates from Greek via New Latin and French, specifically the French word 'atomiser' (and New Latin 'atomizare'), where the Greek root 'atomos' consisted of 'a-' meaning 'not' and 'tomos' meaning 'cut'.

'atomisation' changed from the Greek word 'atomos' (indivisible) through Latin and later New Latin/Old French forms (e.g. New Latin 'atomizare', French 'atomiser'), and eventually became the English verb 'atomise' and the noun 'atomisation'.

Initially, the root referred to 'indivisible' (the idea of indivisible particles), but over time it evolved to refer to the process of breaking a substance into very small particles or a fine spray—its current meaning.