'antiaphrodisiac' originates from Greek, specifically the prefix 'anti-' and the word 'aphrodisiakos', where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'aphrodisiakos' referred to 'Aphrodite' (relating to sexual desire).

'Aphrodisiakos' in Greek passed into Latin and later into modern English as 'aphrodisiac'; the modern word 'antiaphrodisiac' was formed in English by adding the prefix 'anti-' to 'aphrodisiac' to indicate an opposing effect.

Initially formed to mean 'against an aphrodisiac' or 'opposed to sexual stimulation', it came to be used specifically for agents that reduce sexual desire—'a substance that diminishes libido'.