'anti-enzymatic' originates from the Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' combined with 'enzymatic' (from 'enzyme'), where 'enzyme' comes from Greek 'enzymon' and the elements 'en-' meant 'in' and 'zyme' meant 'leaven' (metaphorically related to fermentation).

'enzyme' was borrowed into English from German 'Enzym' in the 19th century, ultimately from Greek 'enzymon'; the adjective 'enzymatic' was formed in modern scientific English using the suffix '-atic', and the prefix 'anti-' was attached to form 'anti-enzymatic' in contemporary usage.

Initially the components conveyed the literal sense 'against enzyme (action)'; over time the compound came to be used specifically in scientific contexts to describe substances or conditions that inhibit or resist enzymatic activity, a meaning that has remained consistent.