'unpublishable' originates from English, formed by the prefix 'un-' (Old English 'un-') meaning 'not' and the adjective 'publishable' (from 'publish' + the suffix '-able'). The verb 'publish' ultimately comes from Latin 'publicare' (from 'publicus') meaning 'public'.

'publish' entered English via Old French 'publier' and Middle English forms such as 'publisshen'/'publissen', later becoming modern English 'publish'. 'Publishable' was formed by adding the English adjectival suffix '-able' to 'publish'; the negative prefix 'un-' was later attached to create 'unpublishable'.

Initially, 'publish' meant 'to make public'; over time the derived adjective 'unpublishable' has come to mean 'not suitable or permitted to be made public (published)'.