'anti-competitive' originates from modern English, formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') attached to 'competitive', which itself ultimately derives from Latin 'competere', where 'com-' meant 'together' and 'petere' meant 'to seek/strive'.

'competitive' changed from Latin 'competere' into Medieval/Old French forms (e.g. 'competir'/'compétitif') and then into Middle/Modern English as 'competitive'; the compound 'anti-competitive' was formed in modern English by adding the prefix 'anti-'.

Initially, Latin 'competere' meant 'to seek together' or 'to come together (for the same purpose)'; over time it shifted to the sense of 'strive against others' (compete) and 'competitive' came to mean 'relating to competition'; adding 'anti-' produced the current sense 'against competition' or 'hindering competition'.