'anti-expansion' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with the noun 'expansion' (from Latin 'expansio'), where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'expansio' meant 'a spreading out'.

'expansion' derives from Latin 'expansio' (from the verb 'expandere', 'ex-' + 'pandere' meaning 'to spread out') which passed into Old French and Middle English as 'expansion' and became the modern English word 'expansion'. The prefix 'anti-' comes from Greek 'anti' via Latin/Medieval Latin and has been used in English to form compounds meaning 'against'. These elements combined in modern English to form the compound 'anti-expansion'.

Initially the parts literally meant 'against' + 'spreading out'; the compound retained that literal sense and evolved to refer specifically to policies, movements, or attitudes opposing growth, territorial enlargement, or development.