'anoplotherian' originates from New Latin and Greek, specifically from the genus name 'Anoplotherium', where Greek 'an-' meant 'without', 'hoplon' (in the compound) meant 'weapon/armor', and 'therion' meant 'beast'.

'Anoplotherium' was coined in 19th-century scientific nomenclature from Greek roots; the English adjective/noun 'anoplotherian' developed later in paleontological literature to denote members of the family Anoplotheriidae or things related to them.

Initially the Greek-based name meant 'unarmed beast' as a literal sense for the genus name; over time the term evolved to denote the taxonomic group (members of Anoplotheriidae) and things pertaining to that group.