'reorganize' originates from Latin and French elements: specifically the prefix 're-' from Latin 're-' meaning 'again' and 'organize' from French 'organiser' (from Late Latin 'organizare'), where 'organ-' meant 'tool' or 'instrument' (from Greek 'organon').

'reorganize' was formed in English by adding the Latin prefix 're-' to 'organize' (which entered English via French 'organiser' and Late Latin 'organizare'); 'organize' itself comes from Greek 'organon' through Latin and Old French, and the combined form 'reorganize' took on the sense 'to organize again' in modern English.

Initially related to forming into an organized whole ('organize'), the compounded form 'reorganize' has meant 'to arrange again' or 'change the arrangement/structure' and has retained that core sense while expanding to organizational, administrative, and technical contexts.