'neurodevelopmental' originates from Greek and English, specifically the Greek word 'neûron' where the root 'neur-' meant 'nerve', and the English word 'developmental' derived from 'development' (from Old French 'desveloper' and related Latin formations) where the root meant 'unfolding' or 'growth'.

'neurodevelopmental' formed in modern scientific English by combining the prefix 'neuro-' (from Greek 'neûron') with 'developmental' (from Middle English/Old French development) and became the established compound adjective in 20th-century medical and psychological literature.

Initially, components meant 'nerve' (for 'neuro-') and 'to unwrap/unfold or grow' (for 'develop'/'development'); over time the compound evolved to mean 'relating specifically to the growth and formation of the nervous system', especially in clinical contexts.