'lipid-inhibiting' originates from English, composed of 'lipid' + 'inhibiting'. 'lipid' ultimately comes from Greek 'lipos' meaning 'fat', and 'inhibit' comes from Latin 'inhibēre', where the prefix 'in-' meant 'in/on' (or used as a negative/intensifying prefix in compounds) and 'hibēre' (related to 'habēre') meant 'to hold' or 'to keep back'.

'lipid' is a modern scientific formation (19th–20th century) derived from Greek 'lipos' and adopted into English to mean fat-related substances. 'inhibit' came into English via Latin 'inhibēre' and Old French/Medieval Latin forms; it developed in Middle English to mean 'to hold back' or 'restrain', and the present participle 'inhibiting' has been used as an adjectival/verb form in scientific contexts.

Initially, the roots referred to 'fat' (lipos) and 'to hold back' (inhibēre); combined in modern usage they specifically describe substances or actions that 'hold back' or suppress fats or lipid-related processes, a technical sense that developed with biochemical and medical usage.