'antherozoidal' originates from New Latin/scientific formation, ultimately from Greek elements, specifically from the element 'anthero-' (from Greek 'anthera' related to 'anther', the pollen-bearing part) and the combining form '-zoid' (from Greek 'zoon', meaning 'animal' or 'living being'), where 'anthero-' referred to structures producing male gametes and '-zoid' meant 'resembling' or 'like an animal/organism'.

'antherozoidal' changed from the noun/adjectival formations in New Latin (e.g. 'antherozoid' / 'antherozoidalis') and eventually entered English as the specialized adjective 'antherozoidal' used in botanical and phycological descriptions.

Initially, it meant 'relating to or resembling an antherozoid (a motile male gamete)'; over time it has remained a specialized biological adjective with that same technical meaning.