'philogyny' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'philo-' (from 'philos') meaning 'loving' and 'gyny' (from 'gynē') meaning 'woman'.

'philogyny' changed from the Late Latin/Modern Latin word 'philogynia' and similar formations in learned English usage and eventually became the modern English word 'philogyny'.

Initially, it meant 'love of women', and over time it has retained this meaning while sometimes being used contrastively to 'misogyny' (hatred of women).