'anthraquinone' originates from International Scientific Vocabulary, combining 'anthracene' (from Greek 'ánthrax' meaning 'coal') and 'quinone' (from German 'Chinon', ultimately from Spanish 'quina' via Quechua 'kina' meaning 'bark').

'anthraquinone' changed from the German scientific term 'Anthrachinon' and eventually became the modern English word 'anthraquinone'.

Initially, it meant 'the quinone derived from anthracene,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage, also extending to its family of derivatives.