'anti-human' originates from the Greek prefix 'anti-' and the Latin-derived English word 'human' (from Latin 'humanus'), where the Greek 'anti-' meant 'against' and Latin 'humanus' meant 'human'.

'anti-human' developed in modern English by combining the Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' with the English word 'human' (from Latin 'humanus'), forming a compound that literally meant 'against human(s)'; the construction follows common English pattern of prefix + noun/adjective.

Initially a literal composition meaning 'against humans', it came to be used more broadly to describe attitudes, policies, actions, or agents that are hostile to human welfare or human values.