The term 'sound-insensitive' is a compound word formed from 'sound' and 'insensitive'. 'Sound' originates from Old English 'sund', meaning 'noise', and 'insensitive' comes from Latin 'insensitivus', where 'in-' meant 'not' and 'sensitivus' meant 'capable of feeling'.

The word 'sound-insensitive' evolved as a modern English term to describe materials or individuals that do not react to sound.

Initially, it referred to materials that did not transmit sound, but it has expanded to describe individuals or systems that do not respond to auditory stimuli.