'hypovolemic' originates from Greek and New Latin elements: the Greek prefix 'hypo-' meaning 'under' and the New Latin combining element 'volemia' (from Latin 'volumen' -> 'volume' combined with Greek '-emia' meaning 'blood condition').

'hypovolemic' was formed in modern medical English from the New Latin noun 'hypovolemia' (hypo- + volemia) with the adjective-forming suffix '-ic', producing the modern English adjective 'hypovolemic'.

Initially, the components described the state 'under (low) blood volume'; over time the assembled term has retained this specific medical meaning of 'having low circulating blood volume'.