'anti-globulin' is formed from the combining form 'anti-' (from Greek anti- meaning 'against') + 'globulin' (a protein name).

'globulin' was coined in the 19th century from Latin 'globulus' (a little ball) with the chemical suffix '-in' to denote a protein; the compound 'anti-globulin' arose in 20th-century medical usage as a technical term for antibodies or reagents directed against globulins.

Originally a literal formation meaning 'against globulins' (i.e., an antibody to globulin), it came to be used specifically for reagents and antibodies employed diagnostically (for example, in Coombs tests).