'geometry-preserving' originates from English, specifically the compound 'geometry' + 'preserving', where 'geometry' ultimately comes from Greek 'geōmetriā' and 'preserving' comes from Latin 'praeservare' (with 'prae-' meaning 'before' and 'servare' meaning 'to keep').

'geometry' changed from Greek 'geōmetriā' into Latin and Old French forms and later entered Middle English as 'geometrie', eventually becoming the modern English 'geometry'. 'Preserve' came from Latin 'praeservare', passed through Old French and Middle English forms to become modern 'preserve'; the compound 'geometry-preserving' is formed productively in modern English from these elements.

Initially the components meant 'earth-measuring' (for 'geometry') and 'to keep beforehand' (for 'praeservare'); together in modern usage the compound has come to mean 'keeping geometric properties unchanged'.