'pro-spiritualism' originates from two English elements: the prefix 'pro-' (from Latin 'pro' meaning 'for' or 'in favor of') and 'spiritualism' (from 'spirit' + the suffix '-ism').

'spiritualism' entered English via French 'spiritualisme' in the 19th century to name the movement; 'pro-spiritualism' is a modern English compound formed by prefixing 'pro-' to 'spiritualism'.

Initially, 'spiritualism' named a specific 19th-century religious movement; adding 'pro-' did not change that core sense but formed a descriptive term meaning 'in favor of that movement or its ideas'.