'barometer' originates from New Latin/Neo-Greek elements, specifically from the prefix 'baro-' from Greek 'baros' meaning 'weight' or 'pressure' and the suffix '-meter' from Greek 'metron' meaning 'measure'.

'barometer' was coined in the 17th century as the name for an instrument measuring atmospheric pressure and entered English from scientific New Latin/Greek formation; it developed as a compound of 'baro-' + '-meter' rather than inheriting from a single older English word.

Initially, it referred specifically to the scientific instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure; over time it also developed a figurative sense of 'an indicator or gauge' for social, economic, or political trends.