'monoploidy' originates from Greek and Neo-Latin elements, specifically the Greek prefix 'monos' meaning 'single' and the Neo-Latin/modern element 'ploid' (from Greek roots related to 'fold/form'), where 'mono-' meant 'single' and '-ploidy' referred to 'fold/number of sets'.

'monoploidy' was coined in modern scientific usage by combining 'mono-' with '-ploid' (a formation modeled on terms like 'haploid' and 'diploid') and entered English in cytogenetics and genetics terminology in the 20th century, becoming the standard term for the single-set chromosome condition.

Initially formed from elements meaning 'single' + 'fold/form', it came to have the specific technical meaning 'having a single set of chromosomes' in modern genetic usage.