'non-endocrine' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and 'endocrine' from Greek 'endon' meaning 'within' and 'krinein' meaning 'to separate'.

'Endocrine' evolved from the Greek word 'endokrinēs', which was adapted into modern English as 'endocrine'. The prefix 'non-' was added to denote the absence of endocrine function.

Initially, 'endocrine' referred to internal secretion, and 'non-endocrine' was coined to describe functions or systems not involving such secretions.