'antidemocracy' originates from Greek elements: 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with 'democracy' (from Greek 'demokratía', where 'demos' meant 'people' and 'kratos' meant 'rule').

'antidemocracy' was formed in modern English by combining the prefix 'anti-' with the noun 'democracy' (which entered English via Latin and French from Greek 'demokratía'), resulting in the compound meaning 'against democracy'.

Initially it meant 'against democracy' in a general sense; over time it has been used to refer more specifically to movements, regimes, or practices that actively oppose or undermine democratic systems.