'azote' originates from French, specifically the word 'azote,' where the parts come from Greek roots 'a-' meaning 'not' and 'zōē' meaning 'life'.

'azote' was adopted into scientific usage in French and Neo-Latin (as 'azotum') in the late 18th century and entered English as the term 'azote' (used especially in older chemical literature).

Initially, it meant 'not life' (used to describe a gas that did not support life); over time it became a name for the chemical element now commonly called 'nitrogen'.