'anthracenedione' originates from Modern scientific coinage combining 'anthracene' and 'dione', where 'anthracene' ultimately comes from Greek 'anthrax' meaning 'coal' and 'dione' comes from Greek elements 'di-' meaning 'two' plus the chemical suffix '-one' (ketone).

'anthracene' was named in the 19th century from Greek 'anthrax' ('coal') via chemical usage; the compound name was later formed by systematic chemical nomenclature joining 'anthracene' + 'dione' to indicate two ketone groups, producing the modern form 'anthracenedione'.

Initially names in early chemistry often referred to specific isolated substances (notably the 9,10-isomer); over time the constructed name 'anthracenedione' has been used more generally for anthracene derivatives bearing two ketone groups, though in practice it frequently denotes anthracene-9,10-dione (anthraquinone).