'structuralism' originates from the French word 'structuralisme,' which is derived from 'structure,' meaning 'arrangement or organization.'

'structuralisme' was adopted into English as 'structuralism' in the early 20th century, particularly in the context of linguistics and anthropology.

Initially, it referred to a method of analysis in linguistics, but it has expanded to various fields, including anthropology, psychology, and literary theory.