'anti-vivisectionism' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', meaning 'against'), combined with 'vivisection' (from Latin 'vivus' meaning 'alive' + Latin 'secare' meaning 'to cut') and the suffix '-ism' (from Greek/Latin '-ismos'/'-ismus', indicating a system, practice, or ideology).

'vivisection' entered English in the 19th century from French and Latin roots ('vivus' + 'secare'); the compound 'anti-vivisection' arose to denote opposition to the practice, and 'anti-vivisectionism' later developed to name the movement or ideological position opposing vivisection.

Initially it specifically referred to opposition to performing operations on live animals; over time it broadened to denote both the organized movement and the general ideological stance against animal experimentation.