'herbivory' originates from New Latin, specifically from Neo-Latin forms based on Latin 'herbivorus' or 'herbivoria', where 'herba' meant 'grass, herb' and 'vorare' meant 'to devour, to eat'.

'herbivory' was formed in English in the 19th century from Neo-Latin 'herbivoria'/'herbivorus' (built from Latin roots) and entered scientific/ecological usage as the noun describing plant-eating behavior.

Initially it referred specifically to the eating of herbs or plants; over time it has remained largely consistent and is now a standard ecological term for plant-eating behavior.