'oxygen-related' is a compound of the noun 'oxygen' and the adjective 'related'. 'oxygen' originates from Modern Latin/French and ultimately Greek: the Modern French/Latin form 'oxygène'/'oxygenium' is based on Greek 'oxys' meaning 'sharp' or 'acid' and '-genēs' meaning 'born of' or 'producer'. 'related' originates from Latin via Old French: Latin 'relatus' (past participle of 'referre') giving Old French and later English forms.

'oxygen' was coined in modern scientific usage in the late 18th century (notably by Lavoisier) from French 'oxygène' (from Greek elements). 'related' developed from Latin 'relatus' → Old French 'relater'/'relaté' → Middle English 'relaten'/'related'. The compound 'oxygen-related' is a modern English formation combining these two elements to describe something connected with oxygen.

Initially, the element name 'oxygen' was coined with the sense 'acid producer' (based on Greek roots) but evolved to denote the chemical element we now call oxygen. 'related' originally came from a Latin verb sense of 'brought back' or 'referred' and evolved to mean 'connected' or 'having a relation to'. Together the compound now means 'connected with oxygen'.