'anthozoon' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'anthos' and 'zoon', where 'anthos' meant 'flower' and 'zoon' meant 'animal'.

'anthozoon' entered scientific New Latin and zoological usage (e.g., in early 19th-century classifications such as those by Cuvier) and eventually became the modern English term referring to members of the class Anthozoa.

Initially, it literally meant 'flower-animal' (a compound of Greek roots), and over time it evolved into the taxonomic term for animals like corals and sea anemones.