'nonestrogenic' is formed by prefixing 'non-' (meaning 'not') to 'estrogenic'. 'Estrogenic' derives from New Latin 'oestrogen', where the combining form 'oestro-' comes from Greek 'oistrós' meaning 'sexual passion or frenzy' and the element '-gen' meant 'producer'.

'estrogen' entered English via Modern/ New Latin 'oestrogen' (from Greek 'oistrós'), 'estrogenic' was formed by adding the adjectival suffix '-ic', and the negative prefix 'non-' was later prefixed to create 'nonestrogenic'.

Initially, forms related to 'oestro-' referred to substances producing estrus or sexual excitation; over time 'estrogen' came to denote the female sex hormones themselves, and 'nonestrogenic' evolved to mean 'lacking estrogen-like activity'.