'anti-Buddhist' originates from modern English, formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek) and 'Buddhist' (from 'Buddha' + '-ist'). 'anti-' originally comes from Greek 'antí' where 'antí' meant 'against'.

'anti-' came into English via Latin and French from the Greek 'antí' (ἀντί). 'Buddhist' derives from 'Buddha', which traces to Sanskrit 'budh-' meaning 'to awaken'; the compound 'anti-Buddhist' arose in modern English usage to describe opposition to Buddhism.

Initially the prefix 'anti-' meant 'against', and combined with 'Buddhist' it has consistently meant 'against Buddhism'; the core meaning has remained stable as 'opposed to Buddhism'.