'antichurchian' originates from Modern English, formed by the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek anti- meaning 'against'), the noun 'church' (from Old English 'cirice'/'kirika', ultimately from Greek 'kyriakon' meaning 'of the Lord'), and the adjectival suffix '-ian' (from Latin '-ianus' via Old French, meaning 'pertaining to').

'church' changed from Old English 'cirice' (from West Germanic *kirika), which ultimately traces to Greek 'kyriakon (dōma)' meaning 'Lord's (house)'; the suffix '-ian' was adopted from Latin '-ianus' through Old French to form adjectives and nouns meaning 'belonging to' or 'related to'. These elements combined in Modern English to produce 'antichurchian.'

Initially the components literally meant 'against the church'; over time the coined term has retained this core sense and is used to describe opposition to church institutions or supporters of that opposition.