'catalysis-inhibiting' is a modern English compound formed from 'catalysis' (from Greek) and 'inhibiting' (from Latin-derived 'inhibit'). 'Catalysis' comes via New Latin from Greek 'katalysis', where the prefix 'kata-' meant 'down' or 'throughout' and 'lysis' meant 'loosening' or 'dissolution'. 'Inhibit' comes from Latin 'inhibēre', where 'in-' meant 'in' or 'on' and 'hibēre' (from habēre) meant 'to hold'.

'Catalysis' entered scientific English in the 19th century from New Latin/Greek usage and came to mean the acceleration of a reaction by a substance that is not consumed. 'Inhibit' entered English from Latin through Old French/Medieval Latin and meant 'to hold back or restrain'. These two elements were later combined in scientific contexts to form compound descriptors such as 'catalysis-inhibiting' to describe agents or conditions that restrain catalytic activity.

Individually, 'catalysis' originally referred (from Greek roots) to a 'loosening' or 'dissolution' process and came to denote the chemical acceleration process; 'inhibit' originally meant 'to hold back'. Together as 'catalysis-inhibiting' the compound now specifically denotes an action or property that holds back or reduces catalytic activity.