'procompetitive' originates from Latin and Modern English, specifically the prefix 'pro-' (from Latin 'pro') meaning 'for' and the adjective 'competitive', which ultimately derives from Latin 'competere', where 'com-' meant 'together' and 'petere' meant 'to seek/strive'.

'procompetitive' developed in modern English by combining the productive prefix 'pro-' with the existing adjective 'competitive' (which passed into English via Old French/Medieval Latin forms such as 'competitivus'/'competitif' from Latin 'competere'). The compound has also been written hyphenated as 'pro-competitive' in some usages before settling as 'procompetitive'.

Originally the Latin root 'competere' conveyed ideas of 'coming together' or 'striving together'; over time 'competitive' came to mean 'inclined to compete', and the modern compound 'procompetitive' now specifically means 'in favor of promoting competition'.