'balanophoraceous' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Balanophoraceae', where 'Balanophora' derives from Greek 'balanos' meaning 'acorn' and 'phoros' meaning 'bearing', and the suffix '-aceous' meant 'pertaining to'.

'balanophoraceous' changed from botanical Latin 'Balanophoraceae' (the family name formed from the genus 'Balanophora') and was adapted into English as an adjective with the suffix '-aceous'.

Initially, it referred specifically to members of the family 'Balanophoraceae'; over time it has come to mean more generally 'relating to or resembling members of that family'.