anti-innovative
|an-ti-in-nov-a-tive|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.ti.ɪˈnɑvətɪv/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.ti.ɪˈnɒvətɪv/
opposed to new ideas/changes
Etymology
'anti-innovative' originates from a combination of the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', via Latin/French into English), and the adjective 'innovative' (ultimately from Latin 'innovare'), where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'innovare' meant 'to renew'.
'innovative' changed from Latin 'innovare' ('to renew') into Medieval/Church Latin 'innovativus' and then into Late Latin/Old French forms before entering English as 'innovate' and the adjective 'innovative'. The prefix 'anti-' came from Greek 'anti' and was adopted in English as a productive prefix meaning 'against' or 'opposed to'.
Initially, the roots conveyed 'against' + 'to renew' (i.e., opposing renewal); over time the compound came to mean more generally 'opposed to innovation' or 'resistant to new ideas or methods'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
opposed to or hostile toward innovation; resistant to adopting new ideas, methods, or technologies.
The company's anti-innovative culture prevented it from competing effectively.
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Adjective 2
describing policies, regulations, or designs that deliberately avoid innovation—often to preserve tradition, reduce risk, or protect existing interests.
Regulators issued anti-innovative rules that made it hard for startups to launch new services.
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Last updated: 2025/10/23 13:45