'counterproductiveness' originates from English, formed by combining the prefix 'counter-' (meaning 'against' or 'in opposition to') with 'productive' (from Latin roots via English).

'productive' comes from Latin 'product-/'producere' ('pro-' meaning 'forward' and 'ducere' meaning 'to lead'). 'Counter-' is from Latin 'contra' via Old French/English. The compound 'counterproductive' arose in modern English (20th century usage) and 'counterproductiveness' is a noun formed from that adjective.

Initially, 'productive' had the sense 'to lead or bring forth' (from Latin 'producere'); over time it came to mean 'yielding good results' or 'efficiently producing'. 'Counterproductive' developed the opposite sense ('working against production/effect'), and 'counterproductiveness' names that state or quality.