'hylozoism' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the elements 'hylē' meaning 'matter' and 'zōē' meaning 'life', combined with the suffix '-ism'.

'hylozoism' was formed in Modern English by combining the Greek elements 'hylē' and 'zōē' with the suffix '-ism' (from Greek '-ismos' via Classical/Modern coinage), producing a term used in philosophy from the 17th–19th centuries onward.

Initially, it meant 'the doctrine that matter is alive'; over time the term has retained that core meaning and is used historically and analytically to describe or critique such views.