'nonreproductive' is formed in modern English by adding the prefix 'non-' (meaning 'not') to 'reproductive', which comes from Latin components 're-' (again) + 'producere' (to lead forth, produce).

'reproductive' entered English via Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'reproductivus' (from Latin 're-' + 'producere') and developed in modern English as 'reproductive'; 'non-' was later prefixed to create 'nonreproductive' to indicate negation.

Initially, components referred to 'producing or producing again'; over time 'reproductive' came to mean 'relating to reproduction', and 'nonreproductive' developed to mean 'not relating to reproduction or not producing offspring'.