'maintenance-free' is a compound of English 'maintenance' and the adjective-forming element '-free'. 'Maintenance' ultimately originates from Latin via Old French: from Latin components 'manu' (hand) + 'tenere' (to hold) through Old French 'maintenir'/'maintenance', where 'maint-' related to 'holding/keeping'. '-free' originates from Old English 'frēo', meaning 'free, exempt'.

'maintenance' developed from Latin roots (manu + tenere) into Old French 'maintenir' and later Middle English 'maintenance'; the suffix '-free' comes from Old English 'frēo' and has been used in compounds (e.g., 'carefree') to mean 'without'. These elements combined in modern English to form the compound 'maintenance-free'.

Individually, 'maintenance' historically referred to the act of maintaining or keeping something, and '-free' meant 'without' or 'exempt from'. Over time the compound came to mean 'without the need for maintenance'—i.e., requiring little or no upkeep.