'ante-patriarchal' originates from Latin and Greek: specifically the Latin prefix 'ante' (from Latin 'ante') and the element 'patriarchal' ultimately from Greek 'patriárkhēs' (via Late Latin 'patriarcha'), where 'ante-' meant 'before', 'patri-' meant 'father', and 'árkhēs' meant 'ruler'.

'ante-patriarchal' was formed in Modern English as a compound of the Latin prefix 'ante-' and the adjective 'patriarchal'. 'Patriarchal' itself came into English via Late Latin 'patriarcha' (and Old French influence), from Greek 'patriárkhēs' ('patri-' meaning 'father' + 'arkhēs' meaning 'ruler').

Initially the elements meant 'before' + 'rule/father', referring literally to a time 'before rule by fathers'; over time the compound has been used descriptively to refer to societies, structures, or conditions that predate patriarchal organization.