'anticoagulant' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'coagulare,' where 'co-' meant 'together' and 'agere' meant 'to drive.'

'coagulare' transformed into the French word 'coaguler,' and eventually became the modern English word 'coagulate,' with 'anti-' added to denote prevention.

Initially, it meant 'to prevent coagulation,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.