'austenitic' originates from English, specifically the word 'austenite' with the suffix '-ic', where 'austenite' was named after the English metallurgist Roberts-Austen and the suffix '-ic' meant 'pertaining to'.

'austenitic' developed from the late 19th-century coined mineralogical/metallurgical term 'austenite' (named for W.C. Roberts-Austen) and was formed into the adjective 'austenitic' by addition of the adjectival suffix '-ic'.

Initially it meant 'relating to austenite (the gamma phase of iron)'; over time it has remained broadly the same but extended usage now commonly denotes steels/alloys having the austenitic (FCC) microstructure and its typical properties (e.g., non-magnetic, ductile).