'nonmembership' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'membership', which comes from 'member', derived from Latin 'membrum', meaning 'limb' or 'part'.

'membership' evolved from the Old English word 'membre', which was influenced by the Latin 'membrum'. The prefix 'non-' was added to form 'nonmembership'.

Initially, 'membership' referred to being part of a body or group, and 'nonmembership' simply negated this state, a meaning that has remained consistent.