'zoogamous' originates from New Latin and Greek roots: Greek 'ζῷον' (zoion) meaning 'animal' + 'γάμος' (gamos) meaning 'marriage' or 'union', combined in New Latin/modern scientific formation to indicate a type of reproductive union.

'zoogamous' developed from New Latin/modern scientific term 'zoogamy' (coined from Greek roots) and entered English as the adjective form 'zoogamous' to describe organisms that employ zoogamy.

Initially formed from roots meaning 'animal' + 'marriage/union', the term came to have the specific biological sense 'involving motile male gametes (sperm)' and is used in modern biology with that technical meaning.