'ovulation-suppressant' is a compound of 'ovulation' and 'suppressant'. 'ovulation' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'ovulatio'/'ovulum', where 'ovum' meant 'egg'. 'suppressant' originates from French/Latin, specifically the word 'suppressant' from Latin 'supprimere', where 'sub-' (or 'sup-') meant 'under' and 'premere' meant 'to press'.

'ovulation' came into English via Medieval/ New Latin 'ovulatio' (from Latin 'ovulum'/'ovum') and became the medical term 'ovulation'; 'suppressant' developed from Latin 'supprimere' → French 'suppressant' and entered English as 'suppressant'. The compound 'ovulation-suppressant' is a modern English medical formation combining these elements.

Initially, the components referred separately to 'egg/egg release' (ovulation) and 'that which presses down' (suppressant); combined in modern usage they mean 'an agent that prevents or reduces egg release (ovulation)', a meaning that has remained stable in medical contexts.