'anti-capitalist' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') combined with 'capitalist' (from 'capital' + suffix '-ist'), where 'capital' ultimately traces to Latin 'caput' meaning 'head' and came to mean 'wealth, property' in later usage.

'capital' came into English via Old French 'capitale' from Latin 'caput'; 'capitalist' developed in the 19th century to denote supporters or owners of capital; 'anti-capitalist' was formed by prefixing 'anti-' to 'capitalist' in the late 19th to early 20th century to describe opposition to capitalism.

Initially coined to describe opposition to capitalism, its basic meaning has remained consistent: 'against or critical of capitalism', though the term has covered a wide range of political positions over time.