'noncommemorative' originates from English, formed by the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non', meaning 'not') attached to 'commemorative', which derives from Latin 'commemorare' meaning 'to mention together, to recall to mind'.

'commemorative' developed from Latin 'commemorare' (com- 'together' + memorare 'to remind'), passed into Old French and Middle English as forms of 'commemorate', and later produced the adjective 'commemorative'; the negative prefix 'non-' was then prefixed in modern English to create 'noncommemorative'.

Initially, related forms meant 'to call or bring to mind' (Latin 'commemorare'); over time the adjective 'commemorative' came to mean 'serving to preserve the memory of' and the prefixed form 'noncommemorative' now denotes the opposite: 'not serving to commemorate'.