'nuclide' originates from the Latin word 'nucleus,' meaning 'kernel' or 'core,' combined with the Greek suffix '-ide,' used in chemistry to denote a distinct entity.

'nucleus' transformed into the modern English word 'nuclide' through the addition of the suffix '-ide' to indicate a specific type of atomic species.

Initially, it referred to the core or kernel of an atom, but over time it evolved to specifically denote an atomic species with a distinct nuclear composition.