'pro-communist' originates from Latin 'pro' (meaning 'for, in favor of') combined with 'communist', which comes from French 'communiste' (from Latin 'communis').

'pro-communist' was formed in modern English by prefixing the Latin-derived prefix 'pro-' to the 19th-century word 'communist' (from French 'communiste'), producing the compound 'pro-communist' used to describe support for communist ideas or persons.

Initially it straightforwardly meant 'for communists' or 'in favor of communism'; over time the term has continued to denote support or sympathy for communists or communist ideology, often used in political contexts.