'nonneutrality' originates from Modern English, formed by prefixing 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') to 'neutrality', which comes via French 'neutralité' from Latin 'neutralis' meaning 'neither of two'.

'nonneutrality' developed in Modern English by combining the negative prefix 'non-' with the noun 'neutrality'; 'neutrality' itself entered English from Old French 'neutralité' (from Medieval Latin 'neutralitas' and Latin 'neutralis', ultimately from 'neuter' meaning 'neither one nor the other').

Initially it meant simply 'not neutral' (the absence of neutrality); over time it has come to be used especially to indicate lack of impartiality or the presence of bias in political, institutional, or analytical contexts.