'anti-tyrosinase' originates from Modern English as a compound: the prefix 'anti-' from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against' and 'tyrosinase' formed from 'tyrosine' + the enzyme-forming suffix '-ase'.

'tyrosinase' was coined by adding the suffix '-ase' to 'tyrosine' (itself named from Greek 'tyros' meaning 'cheese', where the amino acid was first isolated); later, the prefix 'anti-' was attached in Modern English to indicate opposition or inhibition, producing 'anti-tyrosinase'.

Initially the components meant 'against' (anti-) and the enzyme name 'tyrosinase' referred simply to the enzyme acting on tyrosine; combined, the modern term means 'against or inhibiting tyrosinase', and by extension a compound that inhibits that enzyme.