'desynchrony' originates from the prefix 'de-' meaning 'opposite of' and 'synchrony' from Greek 'synchronos', where 'syn-' meant 'together' and 'chronos' meant 'time'.

'synchrony' changed from the Greek word 'synchronos' and eventually became the modern English word 'synchrony', with 'de-' added to form 'desynchrony'.

Initially, it meant 'not occurring at the same time', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.