'endocrine-disruptive' is a modern English compound formed from 'endocrine' and 'disruptive'. 'endocrine' originates from Modern Latin 'endocrinus', where Greek 'endon' meant 'within' and 'krinein' meant 'to separate' or 'to secrete'. 'disruptive' originates from Latin 'disrumpere' (from 'dis-' plus 'rumpere'), where 'rumpere' meant 'to break'.

'endocrine' entered scientific English in the late 19th to early 20th century from Modern Latin 'endocrinus' (via New Latin) to name glands that secrete internally; 'disrupt' came from Latin 'disrumpere' through Old French and Middle English forms and developed into the English 'disrupt' and adjective 'disruptive'. The compound 'endocrine-disruptive' emerged in late 20th century discourse on environmental and chemical effects on hormones.

Originally 'disrupt' primarily meant 'to break apart' or 'to interrupt'; over time, in biological and environmental contexts it evolved to mean 'to interfere with normal physiological processes' and thus 'endocrine-disruptive' now specifically conveys interference with hormone systems.