'gymnospermal' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'gymnos' and 'sperma', where 'gymnos' meant 'naked' and 'sperma' meant 'seed', combined with the English adjectival suffix '-al'.

'gymnospermal' developed via New Latin 'Gymnosperma' (used in botanical Latin for the group of plants) into English 'gymnosperm' and then into the adjective form 'gymnospermal'.

Initially, it meant 'relating to naked seeds (gymnosperms)', and this core meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.