'color-changing' originates from Modern English, specifically the elements 'color' and 'changing', where 'color' ultimately comes from Latin 'color' meaning 'colour/hue' and 'change' derives from Old French 'changier' (from Late Latin 'cambiare') meaning 'to exchange or alter'.

'color' developed into Middle English from Old French 'colour' and then into the modern English forms 'colour' (British) and 'color' (American); 'change' came into English via Old French 'changier' and Middle English 'change', leading to the modern verb 'change' and its present-participle 'changing', which combines with 'color' to form the compound adjective 'color-changing'.

Initially the component words referred simply to 'hue' ('color') and 'to alter' ('change'); the compound 'color-changing' retains a literal sense — something that alters its color — with an extended use for optical effects (iridescence) and for designed materials/devices.