'anticeremonialism' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against'), combined with 'ceremonial' (from Latin/Old French roots related to 'ceremony'), and the suffix '-ism' (from Greek/Latin '-ismos'/'-ismus' meaning 'practice, doctrine, or system').

'ceremony' derives from Latin 'caerimonia' via Old French 'ceremonie'; the adjective 'ceremonial' developed from that, and the modern compound 'anticeremonialism' formed by adding the prefix 'anti-' and the suffix '-ism' to express a doctrine or attitude opposing ceremony.

Initially the elements literally meant 'against ceremony'; over time the compound came to denote not just literal opposition to specific rites but a broader stance or practice favoring informality over formal ritual.