'non-sterile' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'sterile' from Latin 'sterilis', meaning 'barren' or 'unproductive'.

'sterilis' transformed into the Old French word 'sterile', and eventually became the modern English word 'sterile'. The prefix 'non-' was added to form 'non-sterile'.

Initially, 'sterile' meant 'barren' or 'unproductive', but over time it evolved to mean 'free from bacteria'. 'Non-sterile' indicates the opposite.