'anti-ceremonialist' originates from a combination of the Greek prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', meaning 'against') and the English element 'ceremonialist' (itself from 'ceremonial' + the agentive suffix '-ist'). 'ceremonial' ultimately traces back to Latin 'caerimonia' meaning 'a religious rite'.

'anti-ceremonialist' developed in modern English as a compound: 'anti-' + 'ceremonialist'. 'ceremonialist' came from Middle English use of 'ceremonial' via Old French 'ceremonie' and Latin 'caerimonia', and the suffix '-ist' (denoting an adherent or practitioner) was added in English to form 'ceremonialist'.

Initially the constituent elements referred specifically to being 'against' ('anti-') and to 'ceremonial rites' ('caerimonia'); over time the compound came to denote generally someone opposed to formal or ritualized practices rather than only ancient religious rites.