'floraphobia' originates from a modern coinage combining Latin and Greek elements, specifically the Latin word 'flora' (referring to plant life or the Roman goddess Flora) and the Greek word 'phobos', where 'phobos' meant 'fear'.

'floraphobia' was formed in modern English by attaching the Greek-derived suffix '-phobia' to Latin 'flora', following the productive pattern of similar coinages such as 'arachnophobia' and 'claustrophobia'.

Initially coined to mean 'fear of flowers or plants', the term has retained that core meaning in contemporary usage and is used to describe a specific phobia or aversion.