'non-aluminium' originates from English by combining the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non', meaning 'not') with 'aluminium'. 'aluminium' itself comes from New Latin or scientific coinage based on Latin 'alumen' (meaning 'bitter salt' or 'alum').

'non-' is a longstanding English negative prefix (from Latin 'non'); 'aluminium' was coined in the early 19th century (influenced by Latin 'alumen' and the earlier term 'alum') and became the standard British name for the metal. The compound 'non-aluminium' formed by productive compounding (non- + aluminium) follows modern English word-formation patterns.

Initially, the elements of the compound meant 'not' (for 'non-') and referred to the metal derived from 'alumen' (for 'aluminium'); over time the compound has come to be used straightforwardly to denote materials or items that lack aluminium in modern contexts (manufacturing, chemistry, packaging).