'anti-renter' originates from Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' and the English agent noun 'renter'. Specifically, 'anti-' originates from Greek 'anti' where 'anti-' meant 'against', and 'renter' is formed in English from the noun 'rent' plus the agentive suffix '-er'.

'renter' ultimately reflects English formation from the noun 'rent' (Old French 'rente') plus the agent suffix '-er'; 'rent' as a payment word comes from Old French 'rente', itself from Latin roots such as 'reddita'/'reddere' (to give back/return) through medieval usage. The compound 'anti-' + noun pattern is a productive Modern English formation, yielding compounds like 'anti-renter' in recent political and social discourse.

The compound initially and straightforwardly meant 'against renters' when formed; over time its use has come to connote opposition in the specific context of housing policy and landlord/tenant debates, but the basic sense ('against renters') has remained stable.