'anti-meat-eating' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'antí') meaning 'against' and the compound 'meat-eating' (English), where 'meat' refers to animal flesh consumed as food.

'anti-' entered English from Greek via Latin and French; 'meat' comes from Old English 'mete' meaning 'food', and 'eat' comes from Old English 'etan' meaning 'to eat'. The modern hyphenated form 'anti-meat-eating' is a transparent compound created in contemporary English to describe opposition to meat consumption.

Initially, the parts conserved their original senses ('anti-' = 'against'; 'meat-eating' = 'consumption of meat'); over time the combined form has been used specifically to label attitudes, policies, or movements opposing the consumption of meat.