'hysteresis-free' originates from Modern English compounding of 'hysteresis' and the suffix '-free'. 'hysteresis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'hysterēsis', where 'hysterein' meant 'to be late' or 'to lag'. The element '-free' comes from Old English 'frēo' meaning 'not subject to' or 'without'.

'hysteresis' entered English via New Latin/technical usage from Greek 'hysterēsis'. The combining form '-free' has been used in English since Old English ('frēo') and later productive in Modern English compounds; the compound 'hysteresis-free' emerged in 20th century technical and engineering contexts to denote absence of hysteresis.

Initially, 'hysteresis' referred to a 'lagging behind' (Greek sense). Over time it became a technical term for history-dependent responses in physics and engineering; 'hysteresis-free' thus evolved to mean 'free from that lag or memory effect'.