'antiphlogistic' originates from Greek via New Latin, specifically from Greek elements 'anti-' and 'phlogist-' where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'phlogist-' (from Greek 'phlogistos'/'phlogizein') related to 'inflammation' or 'to burn'.

'antiphlogistic' was formed in New Latin/Neo-Latin as 'antiphlogisticus' (or via French) and entered English as the adjective 'antiphlogistic' (also seen as the hyphenated 'anti-phlogistic').

Initially it meant 'opposing or counteracting inflammation,' and over time it has retained that medical sense, now commonly expressed as 'anti-inflammatory' in modern usage.