'anti-race' originates in Modern English as a compound of the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') and the noun 'race' (from French 'race', ultimately from Italian 'razza').

'anti-' entered English from Greek via Latin and Old French as a productive prefix meaning 'against'. 'Race' came into English from French 'race', which in turn came from Italian 'razza'; the compound 'anti-race' is a modern formation using this productive prefix.

Individually, 'anti-' originally meant 'against' and 'race' referred to lineage or group; combined as 'anti-race' the term has come to mean either opposition to racial categories or opposition to races themselves depending on context.