'sperm-reliant' is a modern English compound formed from 'sperm' and 'reliant'. 'sperm' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'sperma', where the root 'sper-' meant 'seed'. 'reliant' comes from the verb 'rely', ultimately from Old French and Latin roots relating to binding and dependence.

'sperm' came into English via Latin and scientific borrowing from Greek 'sperma' and developed into the modern English 'sperm'. 'rely' appeared in Middle English (from Old French), later forming the adjective 'reliant' in Modern English; the compound 'sperm-reliant' is a recent English formation combining these elements.

Initially, 'sperma' meant 'seed' in Greek, and 'rely' originally had senses related to binding or depending; over time the compound came to mean 'depending on sperm' in biological contexts.