'anti-monarchic' originates from Greek elements (through New Latin and modern English): the prefix 'anti-' from Greek 'antí' meaning 'against', combined with 'monarchic' from Greek 'monárkhēs' (via Latin/Old French) meaning 'sole ruler'.

'anti-monarchic' developed as a compound of the productive prefix 'anti-' + the adjective 'monarchic' (from 'monarch' + '-ic'). Variants such as 'anti-monarchical' and related nouns ('anti-monarchism', 'anti-monarchist') appear in modern English usage and the shorter form 'anti-monarchic' is used as an adjective.

Initially the root elements referred specifically to opposition to a 'single ruler'; over time the compound came to mean broader opposition to monarchy as an institution or system of government.