'fermentation-inhibiting' is a compound formed from 'fermentation' + 'inhibiting'. 'Fermentation' comes from Latin 'fermentum' meaning 'leaven' or 'something that causes foaming/fermenting', and 'inhibiting' is the present-participial form of 'inhibit', from Latin 'inhibēre' (in- 'in/on' + habēre 'to hold'), meaning 'to hold back'.

'fermentation' developed in English via Old French/Latin roots ('fermentum' → Old French 'fermenter'/'ferment' → English 'ferment' → 'fermentation'), while 'inhibit' entered English from Latin through Medieval/early modern usage; the compound 'fermentation-inhibiting' is a modern English formation combining the noun and the participial adjective.

Individually, 'ferment' originally referred to leaven or the process of fermenting; 'inhibit' originally meant 'to hold back'. Combined, the modern compound specifically denotes something that holds back or prevents fermentation.