'gynophilic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'gynē', where 'gyn-' meant 'woman' and the element '-philos' meant 'loving'.

'gynophilic' developed via New Latin formations (for example 'gynophilus') from Greek elements and entered English as a technical/clinical adjective formed from those elements.

Initially it denoted 'having an affinity or love toward women', and over time it has retained that basic meaning, now used especially to describe sexual or romantic attraction to women.