'proandrogenic' is a Modern English formation combining the prefix 'pro-' (from Latin 'pro', meaning 'for' or 'in favor of') with 'androgenic' (from Greek elements 'andro-' meaning 'man' and '-genic' meaning 'producing').

'androgenic' comes via New Latin 'androgen' (from Greek 'andr-'/'andros' = 'man' and Greek root related to 'gennan' = 'to produce'), with the adjectival suffix '-ic' producing 'androgenic'; the prefix 'pro-' was attached in Modern English to form 'proandrogenic'.

The component elements originally conveyed 'for' + 'producing (male characteristics)'; over time the combined term came to be used specifically to describe agents or effects that promote androgen activity or production.