'nonmedicinal' originates from English, specifically formed from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' (from Old English/Late Latin usage) combined with the adjective 'medicinal' (from Latin 'medicinalis' relating to medicine).

'medicinal' changed from Latin 'medicinalis' to forms in Old French and Middle English (e.g. Middle English 'medecynal'/'medicinal') and eventually became the modern English 'medicinal'; the prefix 'non-' was attached in modern English to create 'nonmedicinal'.

Initially, 'medicinal' meant 'pertaining to medicine or physicians'; over time the compound 'nonmedicinal' has meant simply 'not medicinal' (not used as medicine), a meaning that has remained stable.