'antiaesthetic' originates from Modern English, specifically the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti') meaning 'against' combined with 'aesthetic' (from German 'ästhetisch' ultimately from Greek 'aisthētikos'), where 'aisthētikos' meant 'pertaining to perception or sensation'.

'aesthetic' came into Modern English via German 'ästhetisch' (18th century), itself from Greek 'aisthētikos'; the English prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti') was added in Modern English to form compounds such as 'anti-aesthetic' / 'antiaesthetic'.

Initially the elements signified 'against perception/beauty' in a literal compositional sense; over time 'antiaesthetic' has been used to describe things judged to lack or oppose aesthetic qualities, a meaning that has remained stable.