'litter-preventive' is a modern English compound formed from 'litter' + 'preventive'. 'litter' in the sense of discarded rubbish comes from Middle English and Old French influences, while 'preventive' comes from Latin via French and Medieval Latin ('praeventivus').

'litter' originally referred to bedding or a bed covering in Middle English/Old French ('litiere') and later extended to mean scattered refuse; 'preventive' derives from Latin 'praevent-/'praeventivus' via Old/Middle French and later entered Modern English as 'preventive'. The two elements were combined in contemporary English to form the compound adjective 'litter-preventive'.

Individually, 'litter' shifted from 'bedding' to 'discarded rubbish', and 'preventive' originally meant 'coming before' or 'acting beforehand'; together as 'litter-preventive' the compound now means 'acting to stop or reduce litter'.