'autotoxicity' originates from English, formed from the combining form 'auto-' (from Greek 'autos', meaning 'self') and 'toxicity' (via Latin/French from Greek 'toxikon', meaning 'poison [for arrows]').

'autotoxicity' developed by combining the prefix 'auto-' (Greek 'autos') with the Late Latin/Old French-derived word 'toxicity' (which comes from Greek 'toxikon' through Latin 'toxicus' and Old French), producing the modern English scientific term.

Initially elements of the word related to 'poison' (Greek 'toxikon') and 'self' (Greek 'autos'); over time the compound came to be used in scientific contexts to denote toxicity produced by an organism that affects itself or its conspecifics.