'anti-alcohol' originates from the Greek prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' combined with 'alcohol', which comes from Arabic 'al-kuḥl' (al-kuhl), where 'al-' meant 'the' and 'kuḥl' originally meant 'kohl' (a powdered cosmetic) and later 'distilled substance, spirit'.

'al-kuḥl' entered Medieval and Early Modern European languages and became 'alcohol' in English; the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'antí') was attached in modern English to form 'anti-alcohol', literally 'against alcohol'.

Initially the elements referred to 'against (alcoholic) spirits' in the context of temperance and prohibition; over time the combined term has come to mean broadly 'opposed to alcohol' in policies, opinions, or movements.