'anti-monarchical' originates from Modern English, formed by the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') attached to 'monarchical', derived from 'monarchy'.

'monarchy' comes from Greek 'monarkhia' ('monos' = 'one' + 'arkhein' = 'to rule'), passed into Late Latin as 'monarchia', then Old French 'monarchie' and Middle English 'monarchie/monarchy'; 'monarchical' developed as the adjectival form, and the prefix 'anti-' (Greek 'anti') was combined in Modern English to create 'anti-monarchical'.

Initially, related terms referred specifically to 'rule by one' or a single sovereign; over time the combined form came to mean 'opposed to the institution or principle of monarchy' in modern political usage.