'anaerobiont' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'an-' meaning 'without', 'aer' meaning 'air', and 'bios' meaning 'life', with the suffix '-ont' denoting an organism.

'anaerobiont' was formed in modern scientific English from Greek roots to describe organisms living without air (oxygen).

Initially, it meant 'an organism living without air (oxygen)', and this meaning has remained unchanged in modern usage.