'gamma-hemolytic' is a compound of 'gamma' (from Greek 'gamma', the third letter of the Greek alphabet) and 'hemolytic' (from New Latin/Greek 'haima' meaning 'blood' + Greek-derived suffix from 'lytikos' meaning 'able to dissolve').

'hemolytic' comes via New Latin from Greek elements 'haima' and 'lytikos'; in bacteriology the noun phrase 'gamma haemolysis' (UK spelling) / 'gamma hemolysis' (US spelling) was used to describe lack of hemolysis, and this later produced the adjectival form 'gamma-hemolytic' to describe organisms showing that trait.

Initially used in scientific descriptions to denote the category 'gamma hemolysis' (a classification on blood agar), it evolved into the adjectival form 'gamma-hemolytic' meaning 'not causing hemolysis' when applied to bacteria or colonies.