'viscoelastic' originates from combining the prefix 'visco-' (from Latin 'viscus'/'viscosus', meaning 'sticky, viscous') and the adjective 'elastic' (from Greek 'elastikos' via Latin and French), where 'visco-' meant 'sticky/viscous' and 'elastic' meant 'able to stretch and return'.

'viscoelastic' appeared in scientific usage in the 20th century (often first written as 'visco-elastic') and later consolidated into the single word 'viscoelastic' in modern technical English.

Initially used to describe materials that show both viscous and elastic responses, this core meaning has remained stable and continues to denote combined viscous–elastic behavior in materials science and rheology.