'isogamete' originates from Greek elements via New Latin (scientific formation), specifically from Greek 'isos' (ἴσος) and Greek 'gamē'/'gamos' (γάμη/γάμος), where 'isos' meant 'equal' and 'gamos' meant 'marriage, union' (used for reproductive pairing).

'isogamete' was formed in modern scientific (New Latin/English) usage by combining the prefix 'iso-' (from Greek 'isos') with 'gamete' (from Greek root for marriage/union, later Latinized), and it entered English as the technical biological term 'isogamete' (plural 'isogametes').

Initially the components literally suggested 'equal marriage/union'; over time the compound came to mean specifically 'a gamete of equal size/shape in isogamous reproduction', which is its modern biological meaning.