'anti-Romantic' originates as a combination of two elements: 'anti-' from Greek 'anti', where 'anti-' meant 'against', and 'Romantic' from the adjective formed from 'Romanticism'.

'Romantic' comes into English via French 'romantique' (and earlier Italian 'romantico'), originally relating to the 'romance' (vernacular) and narrative forms; the compound 'anti-Romantic' emerged in English usage after the rise of the Romantic movement to denote opposition to its ideas.

Initially it meant 'against the Romantic movement or its ideals', and over time it has been used both in art-historical critique and more generally to describe attitudes or styles that are 'not romantic' or 'unsentimental'.