'autohypnotization' originates from Modern English, formed by combining Greek 'auto-' (from 'autos' meaning 'self') and 'hypnotize' (from Greek 'hypnos' meaning 'sleep'), plus the suffix '-ation' to form a noun.

'hypnotize' entered English in the 19th century from French 'hypnotiser' and ultimately from Greek 'hypnos'; 'hypnotization' developed by adding the nominalizing suffix '-ation', and 'autohypnotization' is a later compound created by prefixing 'auto-' to 'hypnotization' in Modern English.

Initially related to the idea of inducing sleep (from Greek 'hypnos'), the sense shifted to denote inducing a trance or suggestible mental state; 'autohypnotization' came to mean specifically self-induced hypnosis.