'vasoconstrictive' originates from Modern Latin/English, combining the combining form 'vaso-' from Latin 'vās' meaning 'vessel' and 'constrictive' ultimately from Latin 'constringere,' where 'con-' meant 'together' and 'stringere' meant 'to draw tight'.

'vasoconstrictive' developed from the noun 'vasoconstriction' (coined in the late 19th century) plus the adjectival suffix '-ive', producing the adjective 'vasoconstrictive' in English.

Initially related to the action or process 'to constrict vessels' (vasoconstriction); over time the form with the suffix '-ive' came to be used adjectivally to describe agents or properties that cause vessel narrowing ('vasoconstrictive').