'nonchiral' originates from the negative prefix 'non-' (from Old English/Middle English via Latin 'non' meaning 'not') combined with 'chiral', which itself was coined in English in the late 19th century from Greek 'kheir' (χειρ) meaning 'hand'.

'chiral' was coined in English (often attributed to Lord Kelvin in the late 19th century) from Greek 'kheir' meaning 'hand'; 'non-' as a productive English prefix meaning 'not' was attached to form 'nonchiral' in modern scientific usage.

Initially, 'chiral' referred to 'hand-like' (from Greek) and was applied to asymmetry; over time the combined form 'nonchiral' came to mean 'not chiral' or 'lacking asymmetry' in molecular and geometric contexts.