'circumareolar' originates from Latin, specifically the words 'circum' and 'areola', where 'circum' meant 'around' and 'areola' meant 'little area' or 'small open space'.

'circumareolar' was formed in modern medical English by combining the Latin prefix 'circum-' and the Latin noun 'areola'; it entered English usage as a compound adjective used in anatomical and surgical contexts.

Initially it literally meant 'around a small area', but over time it evolved into the specialized medical meaning 'around the areola (the pigmented area surrounding the nipple)'.