'trypsin-sensitive' is formed from the noun 'trypsin' (the proteolytic enzyme) and the adjective 'sensitive' (from Latin 'sensitivus', from 'sentire' meaning 'to feel'). 'trypsin' itself comes from Greek 'τρυψίνη' (trypsínē), related to a root meaning 'to rub' or 'wear away'.

'trypsin' entered English in the 19th century via New Latin/German as the enzyme name 'trypsin'; 'sensitive' came into English via Old French 'sensitif' from Latin 'sensitivus'. The compound 'trypsin-sensitive' is a modern biomedical English formation describing susceptibility to trypsin.

Initially, 'trypsin' referred simply to the enzyme and 'sensitive' to the ability to 'feel' or 'respond'; combined in modern usage the phrase means 'susceptible to cleavage or inactivation by trypsin'.