'gravitropic' originates from Neo-Latin, specifically the word 'gravitropicus', where the root 'gravi-' came from Latin 'gravis' meaning 'heavy' and '-tropic' came from Greek 'tropos' meaning 'turn'.

'gravitropic' changed from Neo-Latin 'gravitropicus' (and is closely related to the noun 'gravitropism') and eventually became the modern English adjective 'gravitropic'.

Initially, it meant 'relating to heaviness or turning toward heaviness', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'responding to gravity by growth or movement'.