'neutrophil-poor' originates from Modern English, a compound of 'neutrophil' (from Neo-Latin) and 'poor' (from Old French/Latin). 'neutrophil' comes via Neo-Latin 'neutrophilus' where the element 'neutro-' meant 'neutral' and '-phil' meant 'loving/affinity for'. 'poor' originates from Old French 'pauvre' (from Latin 'pauper') meaning 'having little or lacking wealth/quantity'.

'neutrophil' was coined in modern scientific/medical Latin (late 19th century) from Neo-Latin/Greek elements 'neutro-' + '-phil' to describe cells that stain with neutral dyes; 'poor' entered English via Old French 'pauvre' and Middle English as 'poor', and the compound 'neutrophil-poor' is a modern English formation used in pathology and clinical reporting.

Initially, 'neutrophil' literally referred to cells with affinity for neutral stains and 'poor' meant 'lacking or insufficient'. Over time the compound came to mean 'lacking neutrophils' specifically in a tissue or specimen, used diagnostically to contrast with neutrophil-rich (often bacterial) inflammation.