'anti-preformationist' originates from Modern English, formed by combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against'), the noun 'preformation' (from Latin components 'prae-' meaning 'before' + 'formatio' meaning 'a shaping' or 'forming'), and the agentive suffix '-ist' (used to denote a person associated with a doctrine or practice).

'preformation' derives from Latin 'praeformatio' (via Medieval Latin), with 'pre-' meaning 'before' plus 'formatio' meaning 'a shaping'; the combining elements entered English through Middle English and Early Modern English. The prefix 'anti-' comes from Greek via Latin and Old French usage, and the suffix '-ist' was added to form agent nouns in Modern English, producing 'anti-preformationist' as a compound describing a person opposed to preformationism.

The term was originally used in scientific and philosophical debates about embryology to denote someone opposing the preformation doctrine; over time it has remained a specialist or historical term referring to proponents of epigenesis or critics of preformationism.