'bacteriolyze' originates from Greek combining forms: 'bacterio-' from Greek 'bakterion' meaning 'small staff, rod' (used for 'bacterium') and '-lyze' from Greek 'lyein' meaning 'to loosen, to dissolve'.

'bacteriolyze' was formed in Modern English by combining the scientific combining form 'bacterio-' (from New Latin/Greek 'bakterion' → Latin 'bacterium') with the verb-forming element '-lyze' (from Greek 'lysis'/'lyein'), producing a verb meaning 'to lyse bacteria'.

Initially the roots conveyed 'rod-like microbe' (bacterio-) and 'to loosen/dissolve' (-lyze); combined, the modern meaning became 'to cause the lysis (destruction) of bacterial cells.'