'azinphosmethyl' is a constructed chemical name formed from element roots: 'azin-' (relating to an azin/azine-type nitrogen-containing moiety), 'phos-' (from the element phosphorus/phosphor- used in organophosphate nomenclature), and 'methyl' (from Greek 'methy', used in organic chemistry to denote a methyl group).

'azinphosmethyl' arose in modern 20th-century chemical and commercial nomenclature as a systematic/trade name for this specific organophosphate compound (marketed under trade names such as 'Guthion'); it does not descend from a single older English word but from the concatenation of chemical root elements.

Initially and throughout its use the term has designated this specific organophosphate compound or its formulated pesticide products; over time the term has also taken on regulatory and public-health connotations as restrictions and bans were enacted.