'anti-patriarch' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') and 'patriarch' (from Greek 'patriarkhēs' meaning 'father ruler').

'patriarch' comes from Greek 'patriarkhēs' → Late Latin 'patriarcha' → Old French/Medieval Latin forms → Middle English 'patriarch' and entered Modern English; the prefix 'anti-' came into English via Latin/Greek borrowings and has been used productively in Modern English to form oppositional compounds like 'anti-patriarch'.

Initially the parts meant 'against' + 'father-ruler'; combined in Modern English the compound now specifically denotes opposition to patriarchal systems or attitudes rather than a literal opposition to a single 'father ruler'.