'wear-prone' originates from modern English, formed by combining the verb 'wear' and the adjective 'prone'. 'wear' (see below) refers to rubbing away or using up by friction, and 'prone' comes from Latin 'pronus' meaning 'bent forward' or 'inclined'.

'wear' changed from Old English words such as 'werian/werian' and Middle English 'weren' (with meanings related to using or wearing) and eventually became the modern English verb 'wear'. 'prone' comes from Latin 'pronus' through late Latin/Old French into Middle and Modern English. The compound 'wear-prone' is a modern English formation combining these two elements.

Initially, 'wear' referred broadly to using, wearing clothing, or gradual abrasion, and 'prone' meant 'inclined.' Over time the compound evolved to specifically mean 'liable to become worn or to suffer abrasion' in modern usage.