'deoxygenator' originates from Modern English, formed from the prefix 'de-' (meaning 'remove') + 'oxygen' (from French 'oxygène', ultimately from Greek 'oxys' meaning 'sharp/acid' + 'genes' meaning 'producer') and the agentive suffix '-ator' from Latin (meaning 'one who' or 'that which').

'deoxygenator' changed from the verb 'deoxygenate' (a formation based on 'oxygenate', itself from 'oxygen') and eventually became the noun 'deoxygenator' by adding the agentive suffix '-ator'.

Initially, it meant 'an agent or device that removes oxygen,' and over time it has retained that specialized technical meaning.