'nonspiritual' originates from English, formed by the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') combined with 'spiritual', which ultimately comes from Latin 'spiritus' meaning 'breath' or 'spirit'.

'spiritual' changed from Middle English 'spirituel' and Old French 'spirituel', derived from Latin 'spiritualis' and 'spiritus'; the modern English compound 'nonspiritual' was created by adding the prefix 'non-' to 'spiritual' to indicate negation.

Initially related to 'spirit' (that is, 'of the spirit'), the negated form 'nonspiritual' originally meant 'not of or relating to the spirit' and has retained this core meaning, commonly applied to secular or material matters.