'averah' originates from Biblical Hebrew, specifically the feminine noun from the root עבר (ʿ‑b‑r), where the root meant 'to pass over' or 'to cross', used to indicate crossing a boundary or breaking a limit (hence a transgression).

'averah' changed from Biblical/Mishnaic Hebrew noun forms (Hebrew: עֲבֵרָה / עֲבִירָה) and continued in rabbinic usage to denote a transgression; the Hebrew root עבר ('to pass/cross') gave rise to the sense of 'crossing a moral or legal boundary', producing the noun that entered English usage in Judaic contexts as 'averah' or variant spellings 'aveira/aveirah'.

Initially, the root described physical 'crossing' or 'passing over'; over time this developed into the moral/legal sense of 'crossing a boundary' and thus 'transgression' or 'sin', the current primary meaning of 'averah'.