'polyester' originates from the Greek word 'poly,' meaning 'many,' and the chemical term 'ester,' referring to a specific type of chemical compound.

'polyester' was coined in the 20th century as a term for synthetic fibers made from esters of dihydric alcohol and terephthalic acid.

Initially, it referred to the chemical compound, but over time it evolved to commonly refer to the fabric made from this compound.