'kinase' originates from modern scientific formation, combining the Greek root 'kinein' meaning 'to move' (used as 'kin-'/'kine-') and the enzyme-forming suffix '-ase' (modeled on words like 'diastase').

'kinase' was coined in biochemical nomenclature in the 20th century following the pattern of naming enzymes with the suffix '-ase' (from earlier terms such as 'diastase'); the root element derived from Greek 'kinein' was attached to indicate a functional group in enzyme names.

Initially the Greek root implied motion ('to move'), but in modern biochemical usage the combined form 'kinase' refers specifically to enzymes that transfer phosphate groups (phosphotransferases).