'hydrophilicity' originates from Greek elements and Latin suffixes: Greek 'hydōr' (ὕδωρ) meaning 'water' (as the combining form 'hydro-') and Greek 'philos' meaning 'loving' (as the combining form 'phil-'), plus the Latin-derived English suffix '-ity' which forms nouns indicating a state or quality.

'hydrophilicity' developed in English by combining the adjective 'hydrophilic' (from Greek roots via New Latin/Modern Latin formations) with the noun-forming suffix '-ity'; 'hydrophilic' itself comes from Greek roots 'hydro-' + 'phil-' (from 'philos'), passing into New/Modern Latin scientific usage before entering English.

Initially built from components meaning 'water-loving' in a literal sense, it evolved into a technical term denoting the measurable tendency or quality of materials and molecules to interact with water (their affinity or compatibility with water).