'non-aligned' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'aligned' from the Latin 'alignare,' meaning 'to line up.'

'non-aligned' evolved from the concept of 'alignment' in political contexts, particularly during the Cold War era, to describe countries that did not formally align with any major power bloc.

Initially, it referred to the physical act of not being in line, but over time it evolved to describe political neutrality.