'anthracometer' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anthrax' (ἄνθραξ), meaning 'coal' or 'charcoal', combined with the Greek 'metron' meaning 'measure'.

'anthracometer' is a modern compound formed by combining the prefix 'anthraco-' (from Greek 'anthrax') with the suffix '-meter' (from Greek 'metron'); the formation follows the pattern of scientific coinages of the 19th and 20th centuries (e.g., 'barometer', 'thermometer').

Initially formed to denote instruments measuring coal-related material or coal quality, the term has also been used more generally for devices measuring airborne soot or carbonaceous particulate concentration.