'chondroma' originates from New Latin and ultimately from Greek, specifically the word 'chondros' (or 'khóndros'), where 'chondr-' meant 'cartilage', combined with the suffix '-oma' meaning 'tumor'.

'chondroma' entered medical English from New Latin/medical Latin 'chondroma', which itself comes from Greek 'chondros' ('cartilage') + '-oma' ('tumor'); the form and medical sense have been preserved into modern usage.

Initially it referred to a swelling or growth of cartilage ('cartilage tumor'), and over time it has continued to denote a benign tumor composed of cartilage in medical contexts.