'vasospasm' originates from Neo-Latin/modern medical formation combining 'vaso-' and 'spasm'; 'vaso-' comes from Latin 'vas' meaning 'vessel' and 'spasm' derives from Greek 'spasmós' meaning 'convulsion' or 'spasm'.

'vasospasm' was created in modern medical English by joining the combining form 'vaso-' (from Latin 'vas') with the English word 'spasm' (which entered English via Latin 'spasmus' from Greek 'spasmós'), producing the compound term used in 19th–20th century medical literature.

Initially it denoted simply 'a spasm of a vessel'; over time it has remained close to that original meaning but became established as a specific medical term describing transient vessel constriction with clinical consequences (e.g., coronary or cerebral vasospasm).