'non-commerce' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'commerce' from Latin 'commercium', where 'com-' meant 'together' and 'merx' meant 'goods'.

'Commercium' transformed into the Old French word 'commerce', and eventually became the modern English word 'commerce'. The prefix 'non-' was added to denote the absence of commercial activity.

Initially, 'commerce' meant 'trade or exchange of goods', and 'non-commerce' was coined to specify activities outside this realm.