'unitard' originates from English, combining 'uni-' meaning 'one' and 'tard' from 'leotard', a garment named after the French acrobat Jules Léotard.

'unitard' was coined in the 20th century as a combination of 'uni-' and 'leotard', reflecting its design as a single-piece garment.

Initially, it meant a one-piece garment for performers, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.