'antherozoic' originates from New Latin/Greek formation combining 'anthero-' (from Greek elements related to anther/ male reproductive parts) and the suffix '-zoic' (from Greek 'zoe'/'zoikos', relating to life or animals).

'antherozoic' developed from New Latin terms such as 'antherozoon' (a noun for male gamete) used in 19th-century botanical and phycological literature, and was later adjectivalized in English to form 'antherozoic'.

Initially used to denote things pertaining to 'antherozoons' (male gametes), the term has retained that specialized biological meaning and is still used chiefly in technical descriptions.