'prepubescence' originates from Latin-derived elements: the prefix 'pre-' (Latin 'prae-', meaning 'before') combined with 'pubescence' (from Latin 'pubescere' meaning 'to reach puberty').

'pubescence' came into English from Latin 'pubescere' (via Medieval Latin 'pubescentia'/'pubescens'); modern English 'prepubescence' was formed later by adding the productive prefix 'pre-' to the existing noun 'pubescence'.

Initially related to the onset of sexual maturity ('becoming adult' in Latin roots), the modern compound specifically denotes the stage before that onset — i.e., 'before puberty'.