'noncancerous' originates from English, specifically formed from the prefix 'non-' + 'cancerous', where 'non-' meant 'not' and 'cancerous' meant 'of or relating to cancer.'

'noncancerous' developed by combining the negative prefix 'non-' with 'cancerous' (itself from 'cancer' + the adjective suffix '-ous'). 'Cancer' comes from Latin 'cancer' and Greek 'karkinos' meaning 'crab.'

Initially, the components meant 'not' + 'of or relating to cancer'; over time the compound has come to be used specifically to describe growths or conditions that are benign (not malignant).