'nonparanormal' originates from the English prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non', meaning 'not') combined with the word 'paranormal' (from 'para-' + 'normal'), where 'para-' comes from Greek 'para' meaning 'beside' or 'beyond' and 'normal' ultimately from Latin 'normalis' meaning 'according to rule'.

'paranormal' was formed in English in the late 19th to early 20th century from the prefix 'para-' plus 'normal'; 'nonparanormal' is a later English formation created by adding the negative prefix 'non-' to 'paranormal'.

Initially, 'paranormal' meant 'beyond or outside normal experience'; 'nonparanormal' simply negates that sense and has meant 'not paranormal' since its formation, without a major semantic shift.