'inorganic-induced' is a modern English compound formed from 'inorganic' and 'induced'. 'inorganic' originates from New Latin 'inorganicus', where the prefix 'in-' (from Latin) meant 'not' and 'organicus' (from Greek 'organikos') related to 'organ' or 'instrument'. 'induced' originates from Latin 'inducere', where 'in-' meant 'into' and 'ducere' meant 'to lead'.

'induce' changed from Latin 'inducere' to Old French/Medieval forms (e.g. 'induire') and entered Middle English as 'induce'; 'inorganic' developed later (18th–19th century) by combining the prefix 'in-' with 'organic'. The compound 'inorganic-induced' is a recent technical formation in scientific English combining these elements.

Initially, 'inorganic' meant 'not organic' and 'induce' meant 'to lead into' or 'bring about'; over time the compound came to be used to mean 'brought about by nonliving/chemical agents', i.e. 'caused by inorganic factors'.