'anticonformism' originates from Modern English, formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') + 'conformism', which ultimately traces to Latin 'conformare' where 'con-' meant 'together' and 'formare' meant 'to form'.

'conform' changed from Latin 'conformare' to Old French 'conformer' and Middle English 'conformen', becoming English 'conform'; 'conformism' developed from this noun, and 'anticonformism' was later formed in Modern English by adding the prefix 'anti-'.

Initially the roots meant 'against' + 'forming together'; over time the compound came to mean 'opposition to conformity'—a social or ideological stance against conforming.