'anti-scepticism' originates from Greek and Latin-rooted elements: 'anti-' (Greek 'antí') meaning 'against' and 'scepticism' ultimately from Greek 'skeptikos' (σκέπτικος), meaning 'inquiring' or 'reflective'.

'scepticism' changed from Greek 'skeptikos' to Latin/Medieval Latin forms (e.g. 'scepticus'), passed through Old/Middle French influences (e.g. 'scepticisme') and became the modern English 'scepticism'; the prefix 'anti-' (Greek 'antí') was later combined to form 'anti-scepticism'.

Initially related to being 'against inquiry or examination' (via 'anti-' and 'skeptikos' as 'inquirer'), the compound has come to mean specifically 'opposition to philosophical scepticism' or, more generally, a tendency not to be skeptical.