'hypoalgesic' originates from Greek, specifically the combining elements 'hypo-' and 'algos' (Ancient Greek 'ἄλγος'), where 'hypo-' meant 'under' and 'algos' meant 'pain'.

'hypoalgesic' was formed in modern medical English by combining 'hypo-' + the root related to 'algesia'/'algesic' (from Greek 'algos/algēsis') and entered medical usage in the late 19th to 20th century to describe reduced pain sensitivity or agents that reduce pain.

Initially the Greek components described the idea of 'less' or 'under' + 'pain' (i.e., reduced pain); over time the compound came to be used in English medical terminology to mean 'producing or causing reduced sensitivity to pain' or 'having pain-reducing effects.'