'emetogenic' originates from Greek, specifically from 'emesis' (Greek 'emein' meaning 'to vomit') combined with the suffix '-genic' from Greek 'genes'/'genein' meaning 'producing'.

'emetogenic' was formed in New/Neo-Latin medical usage (e.g. 'emetogenicus' or constructions with 'emeto-' + '-genic') and later entered modern English medical vocabulary as 'emetogenic'.

Initially, the elements meant 'producing vomiting', and this core sense has been retained in the modern medical meaning 'causing vomiting'.