'zeolitic' originates from English, specifically formed from the noun 'zeolite' plus the adjectival suffix '-ic'. 'Zeolite' in turn comes from New Latin 'zeolithus', ultimately from Greek elements.

'zeolitic' changed from the noun 'zeolite' (coined in the 18th century from Greek zēō 'to boil' + lithos 'stone') and was later formed into the English adjective 'zeolitic' by adding '-ic'.

Initially the root referred to a 'stone that seems to boil' (because zeolites release steam when heated); over time the sense became specialized to refer to the mineral group 'zeolite' and adjectives meaning 'relating to zeolites'.