'autohemolytic' originates from Greek and New Latin elements: specifically the Greek prefix 'autos' where 'auto-' meant 'self', combined with 'hemolytic' from New Latin/Greek 'haima' and 'lysis' where 'haima' meant 'blood' and 'lysis' meant 'loosening or dissolution'.

'autohemolytic' was formed by combining the prefix 'auto-' (from Greek 'autos') with the adjective 'hemolytic' (from Neo-Latin/Greek 'haemolysis'/'haima' + 'lysis'); 'haemolysis' entered medical English in the 19th century, and compound terms with 'auto-' became common in 19th–20th century medical usage, yielding 'autohemolytic' in modern technical vocabulary.

Initially components referred more generally to 'self' and 'blood dissolution'; over time the compound came to denote specifically 'self-caused or self-related hemolysis' (i.e., hemolysis originating from the individual's own blood or factors).