'anti-romantic' is formed in modern English by the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') + 'romantic' (from 'romance' via French/Italian forms meaning relating to medieval romance or later to idealized love).

'romance' developed from Old French 'romanz' (vernacular Latin), then Latin 'Romanicus' meaning 'Roman'; 'romantic' arose in the late 18th century referring to the Romantic movement and ideas of idealism and emotion. The prefix 'anti-' (from Greek) has long been used in English to form compounds meaning 'against', producing compounds such as 'anti-romantic' to denote opposition to romanticism.

Originally 'romantic' referred to medieval 'romance' literature and later to the Romantic movement (emotion, idealism, imagination); 'anti-romantic' initially meant opposed to that movement or its ideals and now commonly describes attitudes, styles, or people that reject romantic sentimentality or conventions.