'heterodonty' originates from New Latin and Greek, specifically the word 'heterodontia' (from Greek 'heterodontos'), where 'hetero-' meant 'different' and 'odont-' meant 'tooth'.

'heterodonty' changed from the New Latin word 'heterodontia' and the Greek compound 'heterodontos' and eventually became the modern English word 'heterodonty'.

Initially, it meant 'having different kinds of teeth,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.