'non-3D' originates from English as a compound of the prefix 'non-' and the abbreviation '3D'. 'non-' ultimately comes from Latin 'non' meaning 'not', while '3D' is short for 'three-dimensional' (English), where 'three' traces to Old English 'þrēo' meaning 'three' and 'dimensional' traces to Medieval Latin 'dimensio' meaning 'a measuring (of extent).'

'three-dimensional' developed into English from Latin/Medieval Latin roots for 'dimension' (Latin 'dimensio') via Old French and Middle English; the modern compound adjective 'three-dimensional' became established in scientific and descriptive usage, and in modern technical contexts the negative prefix 'non-' has been attached as a shorthand, producing forms like 'non-three-dimensional' and the abbreviated 'non-3D'.

Initially the elements referred literally to 'not three-dimensional'; that core meaning has remained stable, though the hyphenated/abbreviated form 'non-3D' is a modern, technical shorthand that arose with digital graphics and related fields.