'praxis' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'πρᾶξις' (prâxis), where the root 'πράσσειν/πράσσω' meant 'to do, to act.'

'praxis' entered Late Latin and Medieval Latin as 'praxis' (with the same form), was used in scholarly and theological Latin, and was borrowed into English from Latin (and directly from Greek influence) in the early modern period.

Initially it meant 'action' or 'doing' in general; over time it developed the more specialized senses of 'practical application of theory,' 'customary practice,' and technical uses in philosophy and medicine.