'nonrespondent' originates from Latin elements via English: the prefix 'non-' (Latin 'non', meaning 'not') + 'respondent' from Latin 'respondēre' meaning 'to answer'.

'respondēre' in Latin became Medieval/Old French 'respondre' and Latin/Medieval Latin present-participial forms like 'respondent-', which entered English as 'respondent'; the negative prefix 'non-' was attached in English to form 'nonrespondent' (plural 'nonrespondents').

Initially the component 'respondere' meant 'to answer' in Latin; the compound 'nonrespondent' has consistently meant 'one who does not answer' and has retained that basic meaning in modern usage.