'noise-cancelling' originates from the combination of 'noise' and 'cancel,' where 'noise' refers to unwanted sound and 'cancel' means to neutralize or negate.

'Noise-cancelling' evolved from the concept of 'noise reduction' technologies, which have been developed over the past few decades.

Initially, it referred to any method of reducing noise, but now it specifically refers to electronic devices that actively cancel noise.