'anti-Pharisaical' originates from the Greek prefix 'anti-' (from Greek anti) meaning 'against' and from 'Pharisaical', which ultimately derives from Greek 'Pharisaios' (Φαρισαῖος) via Late Latin 'Pharisaeus' referring to the Pharisees.

'Pharisaical' developed in English from references to the Pharisees (Hebrew 'Perushim') through Greek 'Pharisaios' and Late Latin 'Pharisaeus'; the combining prefix 'anti-' (Greek) was attached in English to form 'anti-Pharisaical' meaning 'against Pharisaical attitudes'.

Initially the components referred specifically to the historical Pharisees and the notion of being 'against' (anti-); over time the compound came to mean broadly 'opposed to hypocritical or self-righteous behaviour', rather than only opposition to that specific religious group.