'multi-' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'multus', where 'multus' meant 'many'; 'mineral' originates from Medieval Latin, specifically the word 'minerale', where 'minerale' meant 'a substance from a mine (ore)'.

'multi-mineral' is a modern English compound formed by combining the prefix 'multi-' (from Latin 'multus') with the noun 'mineral' (from Medieval Latin 'minerale' via Old French and Middle English), resulting in the compound 'multi-mineral'.

Initially, 'mineral' tended to refer specifically to substances obtained from mines (ores); over time its sense broadened to mean inorganic chemical substances or dietary minerals, and 'multi-mineral' came to mean 'containing several different minerals'.