'prostate' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'prostátēs', where 'pro-' meant 'before' and 'státēs' (from 'histánai') meant 'one who stands'.

'prostate' changed from the Greek word 'prostátēs' into Late Latin 'prostata' and Medieval Latin 'prostata', and eventually became the modern English word 'prostate' through Middle English.

Initially it meant 'one who stands before', but over time it evolved into its current anatomical meaning of 'a gland located before the bladder'.