'anthropotheist' originates from Modern English, specifically from the Greek roots 'anthrōpos' and 'theos', where 'anthrōpos' meant 'human' and 'theos' meant 'god', combined with the agent-forming suffix '-ist'.

'anthropotheist' was formed in English by combining the combining-form 'anthropo-' (from Greek 'anthrōpos') with '-theist' (from Greek 'theos' via later English use of 'theist'); it parallels the related noun 'anthropotheism' that arose in English usage to describe the doctrine.

Initially, it meant 'one who regards gods as human' and over time has retained that basic meaning of someone attributing human form or qualities to deities.