'Anoplotherium' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'anoplos' where 'an-' meant 'without' and 'hoplon'/'oplon' (part of the form) meant 'weapon/armament', and 'therion' meant 'beast'.

'Anoplotherium' was coined as a scientific genus name (by Georges Cuvier in 1804) by combining Greek roots and Latinizing them, becoming the modern taxonomic name 'Anoplotherium'.

Initially it literally meant 'unarmed beast' (referring to the animal's lack of horns or prominent weapons), but over time it has come to be used specifically as the taxonomic name for a genus of extinct Eocene ungulates.