'autecological' originates from Modern English formation based on 'autecology' + the adjectival suffix '-ical'; 'autecology' itself is built from Greek 'autos' meaning 'self' and Greek elements behind 'ecology' ('oikos' meaning 'house' or 'environment' and 'logos' meaning 'study').

'autecological' developed by adding the suffix '-ical' to 'autecology' (a term formed in the 19th century from Greek roots via scientific coinages such as German 'Autökologie' and English 'autecology'), resulting in the modern adjective 'autecological'.

Initially the components signified 'self' + 'study of the environment'; over time the combined term came to mean specifically 'relating to the ecological study of a single species or organism', a meaning that has remained consistent in scientific usage.