'audiology' originates from Latin and Greek, specifically the Latin verb 'audīre' and the Greek word 'logia', where 'audīre' meant 'to hear' and 'logia' meant 'study'.

'audiology' changed from the combining forms 'audio-' (from Latin 'audīre') + '-logy' (from Greek 'logia') coined in modern scientific vocabulary in the late 19th to early 20th century and eventually became the modern English word 'audiology'.

Initially, it meant 'the study of hearing', and over time it has kept this core meaning while expanding to include clinical practice and technology related to hearing and balance.