'antiblackness' originates from a combination: the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti'), the adjective 'black' (from Old English 'blæc'), and the suffix '-ness' (from Old English '-nes(s)'), where 'anti-' meant 'against', 'blæc' meant 'dark or burned', and '-ness' formed nouns indicating 'state or quality'.

'antiblackness' was formed in modern English by compounding 'anti-' + 'black' + '-ness'. The prefix 'anti-' entered English via Latin/French from Greek, 'black' derives from Old English 'blæc', and the nominalizing suffix '-ness' dates to Old English noun formation.

Initially the components separately meant 'against' + 'dark/burned' + a noun-forming element; over time the compound has come to denote organized and attitudinal opposition, hostility, and devaluation specifically directed at Black people.