'ecoaesthetic' originates from modern English coinage combining the prefix 'eco-' (from Greek 'oikos', where 'oikos' meant 'house' or 'environment') and 'aesthetic' (from Greek 'aisthētikos', where 'aisthēsis' meant 'perception' or 'sensation').

'ecoaesthetic' was formed in the late 20th century by compounding 'eco-' (as used in 'eco-friendly', itself from Greek via modern usage) and 'aesthetic' (from Greek via Latin and German), rather than by gradual change from a single medieval English word.

Initially the components meant 'house/environment' (eco-) and 'perception/sensation' (aesthetic); over time the compound has come to mean 'an aesthetic sensibility informed by ecological and environmental concerns.'