'anthropophysite' originates from Greek elements: 'ánthrōpos' meaning 'human' and 'phúsis' meaning 'nature', with the agent suffix '-itēs' (from Greek) forming a word for an adherent or follower.

'anthropophysite' formed in English via ecclesiastical and theological Latin/Greek usage (e.g. Late Latin/Medieval Latin formations such as 'anthropophysita'), following patterns used for other Christological labels (compare 'monophysite').

The term originally designated an adherent of a particular Christological position literally characterized as a belief in a (solely) human nature; over time it has been used primarily as a historical/theological label (often pejorative) applied by opponents in Christological debates.