'nonstimulatory' originates from the combination of the English prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non', meaning 'not') and the adjective 'stimulatory', where the root 'stimul-' ultimately comes from Latin 'stimulus' meaning 'goad' or 'spur' and the suffix '-atory' forms adjectives.

'stimulus' (Latin) led to the Late Latin verb 'stimulare' ('to incite' or 'to urge on'), which gave rise to the English verb 'stimulate' and the adjective 'stimulatory'; the modern English adjective 'nonstimulatory' was formed by adding the prefix 'non-' to 'stimulatory'.

Initially the root 'stimulus' meant 'a goad or spur'; over time it evolved to mean 'something that excites or increases activity (especially biological or chemical activity)'; 'nonstimulatory' now means 'not producing such excitation'.