'non-empirical' is a compound formed from the prefix 'non-' and the adjective 'empirical'. 'non-' originates from Latin 'non' (via Old French 'non'), meaning 'not', and 'empirical' ultimately comes from Greek 'empeiria' via Late Latin 'empiricus' and French 'empirique', where 'empeiria' meant 'experience'.

'empirical' entered English from Late Latin 'empiricus' and Old French 'empirique', derived from Greek 'empeiria' ('experience'); the modern compound 'non-empirical' was formed in Modern English by prefixing 'non-' to 'empirical'.

Initially the roots referred to 'experience' or 'knowledge from experience'; 'non-empirical' came to mean 'not grounded in experience/observation', and this core sense has remained consistent in modern usage.