'bacteriostasis' originates from New Latin/modern scientific coinage, specifically combining the combining form 'bacterio-' (from Greek 'bakterion') and Greek 'stasis', where 'bakterion' meant 'small staff, rod' and 'stasis' meant 'a standing still or stoppage'.

'bacteriostasis' was formed in English by combining the prefix 'bacterio-' (from New Latin/Greek) with the Greek-derived suffix '-stasis' in late 19th to early 20th century scientific terminology, producing a term used to describe stoppage or inhibition of bacterial activity.

Initially the components conveyed the idea of 'standing still' or stoppage of bacteria; over time the compound came to be used specifically for inhibition of bacterial growth or replication rather than literal immobility.