'anti-cholagogue' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' (Greek, meaning 'against') combined with 'cholagogue' (from Greek 'chole' meaning 'bile' + '-agogos' meaning 'leading' or 'bringing').

'cholagogue' comes from Greek χολή ('chole', 'bile') + ἀγωγός ('agogos', 'leading') via Late Latin/Medieval Latin forms into English; the modern compound 'anti-cholagogue' was created by adding the Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' to indicate opposition.

Originally, components referred to 'leading or promoting bile'; with the prefix 'anti-' the compound came to mean 'opposing or inhibiting bile flow' in medical usage.