'spermist' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'sperma', where 'sperma' meant 'seed', combined with the English agent suffix '-ist' meaning 'one who believes in or practices'.

'spermist' was formed in English in the context of 17th–18th century biological debates by attaching '-ist' to the stem 'sperm-' (from Greek 'sperma') to denote an adherent of the spermism (preformation) theory; the term was used alongside related terms like 'preformationist'.

Initially, it meant 'an advocate of spermism (preformation in the sperm)'; over time the term became largely historical/archaic as embryological science favored epigenesis, so its use is now mainly historical or rhetorical.