'nonliturgical' is formed from the negative prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non', meaning 'not') plus 'liturgical', which ultimately comes from Greek 'leitourgia' (λειτουργία) meaning 'public service' or 'work for the people'.

'liturgical' derives from Greek 'leitourgia' via Late Latin 'liturgia' and Middle English 'liturgie'; the modern English adjective 'liturgical' developed from these forms, and 'non-' was later prefixed to create 'nonliturgical'.

Initially 'leitourgia' referred to 'public service' or 'a public work for the community'; over time the meaning narrowed to religious public worship or 'liturgy', and 'nonliturgical' came to mean 'not part of liturgy or formal worship'.