'formamide' originates from the element 'formic' (from Latin 'formica', meaning 'ant', source of formic acid) combined with the chemical suffix '-amide' (from French 'amide', ultimately related to 'ammonia').

'formic' derives from Latin 'formica' (ant) because formic acid was first obtained from ants; the systematic name 'methanamide' (IUPAC) and common name 'formamide' arose in the 19th century as organic chemistry nomenclature developed, combining 'form-' (from formic/formyl) and '-amide'.

Initially the element name 'formic' referred to substances related to ants (source of formic acid); over time 'formamide' came to mean specifically the simplest amide of formic acid and a distinct chemical reagent/solvent.