'ovulation-inducing' is a modern English compound formed from 'ovulation' + 'inducing'. 'Ovulation' ultimately comes from Latin 'ovum' meaning 'egg' with the noun-forming suffix '-ation'. 'Inducing' comes from Latin 'inducere' (in- 'into' + ducere 'to lead').

'ovulation' derived in New Latin from Latin 'ovulum' (diminutive of 'ovum') + '-ation'; 'induce' passed into English via Old French 'induire' from Latin 'inducere'. The compound adjective 'ovulation-inducing' is a modern formation combining the noun and a present-participial verb to mean 'causing ovulation'.

Initially 'induce' meant 'to lead into' (literally 'lead into'); combined with 'ovulation', the compound came to mean specifically 'causing the physiological event of ovulation'.