'hypodontia' originates from Greek, specifically the prefix 'hypo-' and the root 'odont-' (or Greek 'odous'), where 'hypo-' meant 'under' and 'odont-'/ 'odous' meant 'tooth'.

'hypodontia' was formed in New Latin/medical terminology from Greek elements (hypo- + odont-), passed into medical English as 'hypodontia' to denote the condition of missing teeth.

Initially the roots described 'under' + 'tooth' (literally 'under-tooth'), and over time the combined form came to mean the medical condition of absent or underdeveloped teeth; this core meaning has been retained.