'anti-papism' originates from Modern English, formed from the Greek prefix 'anti' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with 'papism' (from Latin/Old French 'papa'/'pape' referring to the pope), where the components together denote opposition to papal authority.

'papism' changed from Old French 'papisme' and Middle English 'papisme' and eventually became the modern English word 'papism'; 'anti-' as a prefix comes from Greek 'anti' and was attached in Modern English to form 'anti-papism'.

Initially, it meant 'opposition to papal influence or the system of the papacy', and over time it has retained that core meaning while being used in historical, religious, and political contexts.