'azodisulphonic' is formed from chemical/Neo-Latin and English word-formation elements: the prefix 'azo-' (referring to azo compounds, from French/Greek roots relating to nitrogen), the combining form 'di-' meaning 'two', and 'sulphonic' from 'sulfonic' (from Latin/modern chemistry referring to sulfur-containing sulfonic acid groups).

'azo-' entered chemical nomenclature in the 19th century (from French 'azote' and Greek roots) to denote nitrogen-containing functional groups; 'sulfonic' developed in modern chemical nomenclature from terms for sulfur compounds. These elements were combined in technical nomenclature to form terms like 'azodisulphonic' to describe specific substituted azo compounds.

Originally, 'azo' broadly indicated nitrogen-related (from 'azote') substances; over time it narrowed to mean specifically the –N=N– linkage in organic chemistry. 'Sulphonic' has consistently referred to sulfonic acid or sulfonate groups; combined, the term now specifically denotes an azo compound carrying two sulfonic groups.