'autoluminescent' originates from Greek and Latin elements: Greek 'autos' meaning 'self' and Latin 'lūmen' (via French/Latin-derived 'lumin-') meaning 'light', combined with the Latin-derived suffix '-escent' meaning 'becoming' or 'beginning to be'.

'autoluminescent' formed in modern English by prefixing Greek 'auto-' to the adjective 'luminescent' (from Latin 'lūminēscēns', present participle of 'lūminēscĕre'), creating a compound that literally conveys 'becoming light by itself'.

Initially, 'luminescent' referred generally to 'emitting light'; with the addition of 'auto-' the sense narrowed to 'emitting light by itself' (self-generated light), a more specific scientific nuance.