'spermatophyte' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'sperma' meaning 'seed' and 'phyton' meaning 'plant'.

'spermatophyte' was derived from the Greek words 'sperma' and 'phyton', and eventually became the modern English word 'spermatophyte'.

Initially, it meant 'seed plant', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.