'bacteriopathology' originates from Modern English, combining the prefix 'bacterio-' (ultimately from New Latin 'bacterium', from Greek 'baktērion' meaning 'small staff' or 'rod') and 'pathology' (from Greek 'pathologia', from 'pathos' meaning 'suffering' and '-logia' meaning 'study').

'bacteriopathology' was formed in Modern English by joining 'bacterio-' and 'pathology'; 'bacterium' entered scientific Latin from Greek 'baktērion', while 'pathologia' passed from Greek into Latin/Medieval Latin and then into modern English as 'pathology'.

Initially the elements referred separately to 'bacterial rod' (baktērion) and 'study of disease' (pathologia); together as 'bacteriopathology' the term has come to mean the study of diseases or pathological processes caused by bacteria, a meaning that has remained specialized in medical usage.