'non-athletic' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'athletic' from Greek 'athlētikos', where 'athlētēs' meant 'contestant in the games'.

'athlētikos' transformed into the Latin word 'athleticus', and eventually became the modern English word 'athletic'. The prefix 'non-' was added to form 'non-athletic'.

Initially, 'athletic' meant 'pertaining to athletes', and 'non-athletic' evolved to mean 'not having athletic qualities'.