'antialcohol' is a modern English compound formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') and 'alcohol' (from Arabic 'al-kuḥl' via Medieval Latin and Old French).

'alcohol' entered English from Medieval Latin/Old French, originating in Arabic 'al-kuḥl' (a powdered kohl and later distilled substances). The prefix 'anti-' comes from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against' and was adopted into Latin and then English; these elements were combined in modern English to form 'antialcohol'.

The components originally referred to 'against' (anti-) and a substance ('al-kuḥl' referring to kohl, later distilled liquids). Over time, 'alcohol' came to mean distilled intoxicating beverages, and the compound 'antialcohol' has come to mean 'against alcohol' in the social/political sense.