'anti-prelacy' originates from modern English, specifically a compound of the Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' and 'prelacy' (from Medieval Latin/Old French roots).

'prelacy' comes via Middle English from Old French and ultimately from Latin 'praelatus' (past participle of 'praeferre'/'praeferre' meaning 'to prefer/put before'); 'anti-' is from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against'. The compound 'anti-prelacy' formed in modern English usage to denote opposition to 'prelacy'.

Initially, 'prelacy' referred to the office or authority of prelates; the compound 'anti-prelacy' developed later to denote opposition to that form of church government and has retained that specialized, chiefly historical or ecclesiastical meaning.