'philogynia' originates from Greek, specifically from the elements 'philo-' and 'gynē', where 'philo-' meant 'loving' and 'gynē' meant 'woman'.

'philogynia' passed into New Latin (as 'philogynia') and was later borrowed into English; the word ultimately derives from classical Greek roots 'philo-' + 'gynē'.

Initially, it meant 'love or admiration of women', and over time the basic meaning has remained largely unchanged as a technical or literary term.