'oligogenetic' originates from Greek via modern scientific coinage, specifically the Greek element 'oligos' and the Greek-derived element 'genētikos', where 'oligos' meant 'few' and 'gen-'/'genēs' meant 'beget, produce, origin'.

'oligogenetic' was formed in modern scientific/Neo-Latin usage by combining the Greek prefix 'oligo-' (from 'oligos') with the adjective-forming element from Greek 'genētikos' and entered English technical literature in the 20th century as a term describing causes involving a few genes.

Initially the roots together meant 'originating from few' in a literal compositional sense; over time the term specialized in biology and genetics to mean 'having an origin in a few genes' or 'caused by a few genetic factors'.