'floral-averse' is a modern English compound formed from 'floral' + 'averse'. 'Floral' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'florālis' (from 'flōs, flōris'), where the root 'flor-' meant 'flower'. 'Averse' originates from Latin, specifically the past participle 'aversus' of 'avertere', where 'a-/ab-' meant 'away' and 'vertere' meant 'to turn'.

'Floral' developed from Latin 'florālis' into Late Latin/Old French forms and entered English via Middle to Early Modern English as 'floral' meaning 'of flowers' or 'flower-like'. 'Averse' came from Latin 'aversus' through Late Latin and Old French into Middle English as 'averse' meaning 'turned away' or 'having a feeling of opposition.' The compound 'floral-averse' is a recent, transparent English formation combining those elements.

Originally the elements conveyed the literal senses 'flower-related' and 'turned away'; together they now idiomatically mean 'having a dislike or avoidance of flowers or floral things.'