'anti-angiogenic' originates from Modern English, combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') and 'angiogenic', where 'angiogenic' comes from Greek 'angeion' meaning 'vessel' and the suffix '-genic' (from Greek 'gennan') meaning 'to produce'.

'angiogenic' derived from Greek via Modern Latin (for example Greek 'angiogenēs' or elements 'angio-' + '-genic'), and the compound 'anti-angiogenic' was formed in English in the 20th century within medical and biological contexts to denote agents or properties opposing angiogenesis.

Initially, roots related to 'angiogenic' described 'producing vessels' or 'promoting vessel formation'; over time the compound 'anti-angiogenic' came to mean 'inhibiting or preventing the growth of new blood vessels.'