'balantidiosis' originates from New Latin, formed from the genus name 'Balantidium' + Greek-derived suffix '-osis' meaning 'disease or condition'.

'balantidiosis' was formed in modern medical Latin by combining the genus name 'Balantidium' (coined from Greek roots referring to a small bag or bladder-like form) with the Greek suffix '-osis'; this construction produced the term for the disease caused by that genus.

Initially, it meant 'a disease caused by Balantidium', and over time it has retained that specific medical meaning.