'anti-statism' originates from Modern English, specifically the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with 'statism' (from 'state' + suffix '-ism'), where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'statism' meant 'belief in or support for state power or central authority'.

'statism' developed from the noun 'state' (ultimately from Latin 'status' meaning 'condition, position') plus the suffix '-ism' to denote a doctrine or belief; the prefix 'anti-' was later attached in Modern English to form 'anti-statism'.

Initially formed to denote a stance 'against statism' (opposition to centralized state control), the term has retained that core sense and is used to describe both the ideology and attitudes opposing strong state authority.