'autacoidal' originates from the English noun 'autacoid', itself a modern medical coinage built from Greek elements: 'autos' meaning 'self' and Greek 'akós' (or 'akos') meaning 'remedy' or 'cure'.

'autacoid' was coined in modern medical/biological literature (early 20th century) from Greek roots and Neo-Latin scientific formation; the English adjective 'autacoidal' was later formed by adding the adjectival suffix '-al' to 'autacoid'.

Initially the coinage literally suggested a 'self-remedy' or 'self-acting cure' from its roots, but its technical sense settled on 'a locally produced biologically active substance (a local hormone-like mediator)', and 'autacoidal' came to mean 'relating to such substances'.