'anti-staphylococcal' originates from Greek and New Latin elements: the prefix 'anti-' (Greek) meaning 'against' and 'Staphylococcus' (New Latin) ultimately from Greek 'staphyle' meaning 'bunch of grapes' and 'kokkos' meaning 'berry' (used for the bacterial name).

'anti-staphylococcal' was formed in modern medical English by combining the prefix 'anti-' with the adjective 'staphylococcal' (from New Latin 'Staphylococcus', itself from Greek 'staphyle' + 'kokkos'); the bacterium name arose in the late 19th century and the compound adjective became common in 20th-century clinical usage.

Initially the parts meant 'against' (anti-) and referred to the 'bunch-of-grapes' appearance of certain bacteria (staphyle/ Staphylococcus); over time the compound came to specifically mean 'effective against or directed at staphylococcal bacteria'.