'psammophilic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'psammos', where 'psammos' meant 'sand', combined with Greek 'philos' ('loving') via the combining form '-philic' from New/Neo-Latin and scientific coinage.

'psammos' + '-phile/-philic' produced scientific coinages such as 'psammophile' (Late 19th/early 20th century Neo-Latin/English) and later the adjective form 'psammophilic' was formed in English to describe organisms or traits that prefer sandy habitats.

Initially coined to denote organisms or tendencies associated with sand ('sand-loving'), the term has retained this specialized ecological meaning in modern usage.