'immovability' originates from Latin roots via French and English formation, combining the privative prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' with Latin 'movēre' meaning 'to move,' through 'movable' (< Latin 'mobilis' ‘movable’), plus the abstract-noun suffix '-ity' (from Latin '-itās').

'Movable' entered Middle English via Anglo-Norman/Old French 'movable' from Latin 'mobilis.' The adjective 'immovable' formed with the negative prefix 'in-' in English and French influence; the abstract noun 'immovability' was then formed in Early Modern English by adding '-ity' to 'immovable,' yielding the modern English 'immovability.'

Initially, it denoted the quality of not being able to be moved; later, a figurative sense of emotional or ideological firmness developed, while the original physical sense remained primary.