'emesis-inducing' is a modern compound formed from 'emesis' (a medical noun) + the present participle 'inducing'. 'Emesis' comes from Greek 'ἔμεσις' (emesis) meaning 'vomiting', and 'inducing' ultimately derives from Latin 'inducere' ('in-' + 'ducere') meaning 'to lead into' or 'bring about'.

'Emesis' was borrowed into Late Latin from Greek 'ἔμεσις' and entered English as a medical term. 'Induce' entered English via Latin 'inducere' and Old French influences; the compound 'emesis-inducing' is a transparent modern English formation combining the medical noun with an English participial form.

Individually, 'emesis' originally meant 'the act of vomiting' and 'induce' meant 'to lead or bring about'; together the compound came to mean 'causing vomiting' (a direct extension of the component meanings).