'mitogenic' originates from New Latin/modern scientific coinage, specifically from the word 'mitogen' plus the adjectival suffix '-ic', where 'mitogen' meant 'a substance that induces mitosis' and '-ic' forms an adjective.

'mitogen' and 'mitosis' trace back to Greek: 'mitosis' was coined in the late 19th century from Greek 'mitos' meaning 'thread'; 'mitogen' (a mitosis-inducing agent) was formed later by combining 'mito-' (from 'mitosis') and '-gen' ('producer'), and 'mitogenic' developed as the adjectival form.

Initially the roots referred to 'thread' (Greek 'mitos') and the process 'mitosis'; over time they came to denote substances or properties that induce mitosis, producing the modern adjective meaning 'causing cell division'.