'heterophoria' originates from Greek, specifically the prefix 'hetero-' from Greek 'heteros' and the element '-phoria' from Greek 'phorein', where 'heteros' meant 'different' and 'phorein' meant 'to carry or bear'.

'heterophoria' was formed in modern medical/Neo-Latin usage from Greek elements ('hetero-' + '-phoria') and entered English as a technical ophthalmic term in the late 19th to early 20th century.

Initially constructed to mean 'different bearing' from its Greek roots, it evolved into the specific clinical meaning 'a latent deviation of the eyes' used in ophthalmology and optometry.