'metrology' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'metron' and the suffix '-logia', where 'metron' meant 'measure' and '-logia' meant 'study'.

'metrology' changed from New Latin 'metrologia' and passed through scholarly Latin and modern usage to become the English word 'metrology'.

Initially, it meant 'the study of measurement', and over time this core meaning has remained, now covering both theoretical and practical measurement sciences.