'anti-censorship' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-', via Latin and Old French), meaning 'against', combined with 'censorship', which ultimately derives from Latin 'censor'.

'censorship' developed from Latin 'censor' → Old French 'censure'/'censurer' → Middle English 'censure'; the modern noun 'censorship' emerged in later English. The prefix 'anti-' is a productive element from Greek 'antí-' that entered English formation via classical and Romance-language influence, producing compounds such as 'anti-censorship' in modern usage.

Originally, 'censor' referred to a Roman official who assessed public morals; 'censorship' later came to mean the act or system of suppressing or regulating speech and publications. 'Anti-censorship' thus initially signified opposition to the censor or censorial control and now broadly denotes opposition to practices or policies that restrict expression.