'audition' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'auditionem' (accusative of 'auditio'), where 'audire' meant 'to hear.'

'audition' entered English via Old French/Norman French 'audicion' (Middle English also used forms like 'audicioun') and developed into modern English 'audition.'

Initially it meant 'a hearing' or 'act of hearing'; over time it narrowed to mean 'a trial performance for assessment' (and later extended to related senses like testing audio equipment).