'anti-Darwinian' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') combined with 'Darwinian' (from the name 'Darwin' + suffix '-ian' meaning 'related to or belonging to').

'Darwinian' developed in the late 19th century from the proper name 'Darwin' (Charles Darwin) + the adjectival suffix '-ian'; 'anti-Darwinian' arose as a compound adjective and noun soon after, used to describe opposition to Darwin's theories.

Initially, it meant 'against the ideas or theories advocated by Charles Darwin' and has retained that core meaning, referring to opposition to Darwinian theory (especially natural selection).