'neurotoxicant' is a modern compound formed from Greek 'neuron' meaning 'nerve' and Neo-Latin/Greek-derived element 'toxicant' from 'toxicon' meaning 'poison'.

'neurotoxicant' developed in technical and scientific English in the 20th century by combining the combining form 'neuro-' (from Greek) with 'toxicant' (a Late Latin/Greek-derived word related to 'toxin'), rather than evolving from a single older English word.

Initially coined to denote any 'poisonous agent affecting nerves', the term's meaning has remained specialized and is used primarily in toxicology and medicine to denote substances that damage the nervous system.