'avitaminotic' originates from Modern Latin/English formation, specifically related to 'avitaminosis', where the prefix 'a-' meant 'without' and 'vitamin' referred to the essential organic compounds (from Latin 'vita' meaning 'life' combined historically with 'amine').

'avitaminotic' was formed from the noun 'avitaminosis' (coined in the early 20th century after 'vitamin'), with the adjectival suffix '-otic' attached to indicate 'pertaining to' or 'caused by' that condition, producing the modern English adjective 'avitaminotic'.

Initially it denoted 'pertaining to avitaminosis (a lack of vitamins)', and it has retained this meaning as 'lacking vitamins or caused by vitamin deficiency' in modern usage.