'anti-prelatic' originates from Greek and Latin elements, specifically the Greek prefix 'anti' and the Latin word 'praelatus', where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'praelatus' was the past participle related to 'praeferre' meaning 'placed before' or 'preferred'.

'anti-prelatic' developed by combining the prefix 'anti-' with the adjective 'prelatic', which itself derives from English 'prelate' (from Medieval Latin 'praelatus', from Latin 'praeferre'). The sequence is: Latin 'praeferre' -> Medieval Latin 'praelatus' -> Old/Medieval English 'prelate' -> adjective 'prelatic' -> compounded as 'anti-prelatic' in Early Modern/Modern English usage.

Initially it referred broadly to being 'against those who were placed before' (i.e., those preferred or set above), specifically prelates; over time it has come to mean 'opposed to the authority or influence of bishops' in modern usage.