'ovulation-inhibiting' is a compound formed from 'ovulation' (originating from Latin, specifically Late Latin 'ovulatio', from 'ovum' meaning 'egg') and 'inhibiting' (originating from Latin 'inhibēre', where the prefix 'in-' meant 'in/into' or used as intensifier/negation and 'habēre' meant 'to hold').

'ovulation' entered English via Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'ovulatio' (from Latin 'ovum') and became the English noun 'ovulation'; 'inhibiting' derives from Latin 'inhibēre' (through Medieval/Old French and Middle English forms such as 'inhibiten') and the present participle form 'inhibiting' was formed in Modern English; the compound 'ovulation-inhibiting' arose in Modern English usage by joining these elements to describe an action or property that restrains ovulation.

Separately, 'ovulation' originally denoted the act/state of releasing an egg and 'inhibit' meant to hold back or restrain; combined in Modern English they convey the specific meaning 'preventing or suppressing the release of an egg (ovulation)'.