'autophyte' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'autophytos', where 'auto-' meant 'self' and 'phyton' meant 'plant'.

'autophyte' changed from the Modern Latin word 'autophytus' (derived from Greek) and eventually became the modern English word 'autophyte'.

Initially, it meant 'self-feeding plant', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'an organism capable of producing its own food (by photosynthesis or chemosynthesis)'.