'gymnosperm' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the words 'gymnos' and 'sperma', where 'gymnos' meant 'naked' and 'sperma' meant 'seed'.

'gymnosperm' entered scientific usage via New Latin 'Gymnospermae' in the 19th century and eventually became the English botanical term 'gymnosperm'.

Initially, it meant 'naked seed' (seeds not enclosed in an ovary); over time the term has come to denote the group of plants characterized by such exposed seeds, a meaning that has remained largely stable.