'anthophyte' originates from New Latin 'Anthophyta', ultimately from Greek elements 'anthos' and 'phyton', where 'anthos' meant 'flower' and 'phyton' meant 'plant'.

'anthophyte' derives from New Latin 'Anthophyta' (used in botanical classification) which in turn comes from Greek 'anthos' + 'phyton'; the modern English form developed through scientific Latin usage in the 18th–19th centuries.

Initially it literally meant 'flower-plant' (a plant bearing flowers); over time it became the technical term for angiosperms (plants with enclosed seeds).