'tolerogenic' originates from Neo-Latin/modern scientific formation, specifically combining the English/Latin root 'tolerance' (from Latin 'tolerantia'), with the Greek-derived suffix '-genic', where 'tolerantia' meant 'endurance' and '-genic' meant 'producing'.

'tolerogenic' changed from the English/Latin noun 'tolerance' (Middle English from Old French and Latin 'tolerantia') combined with the Greek-based suffix '-genic' (used in scientific coinages) and eventually became the modern English scientific adjective 'tolerogenic'.

Initially it referred generally to the production or promotion of tolerance ('producing endurance'), but over time it evolved into the current specialized sense of 'inducing immunological tolerance'.