'antiabsolutist' originates from Modern English, formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek ἀντί, meaning 'against') plus 'absolutist' (from 'absolutism'), where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'absolutist' referred to a supporter or advocate of absolutism.

'antiabsolutist' changed from the hyphenated phrase 'anti-absolutist' and derives via 'absolutist' from 'absolutism', which in turn comes from Late Latin 'absolutismus' and Latin 'absolutus' (past participle of 'absolvere'). Over time these pieces combined in Modern English to form 'antiabsolutist'.

Initially, it meant 'a person opposed to political absolutism' and over time has retained that core political meaning, sometimes broadened to oppose absolute authority in other contexts.