'lipase-activating' originates from Modern English, specifically the combination of 'lipase' and the present-participle form 'activating', where 'lipase' comes from New Latin 'lipase' (from Greek 'lipos' meaning 'fat' + the enzyme-forming suffix '-ase') and 'activate' derives from Latin 'activare' meaning 'to set in motion'.

'lipase' was coined in New Latin in the 19th century from Greek 'lipos' ('fat') plus the suffix '-ase' used for enzymes; 'activate' comes from Latin 'activare' (via Medieval/Modern Latin and French/English usage); the compound adjective 'lipase-activating' is a modern biochemical formation combining these elements.

Initially the parts referred separately to 'fat enzyme' and 'making active'; over time the compound came to be used in technical contexts to mean specifically 'causing activation of lipase'.