'antidesiccant' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'antí', via Latin/Old French) meaning 'against' combined with 'desiccant', which comes from Latin 'desiccare'/'desiccāre' where 'de-' meant 'away' and 'siccus' meant 'dry'.

'desiccant' changed from Medieval Latin forms (e.g. 'desiccans'/'desiccantem') and related Old French/Latin influences into the modern English 'desiccant'; 'antidesiccant' is a later modern English compound formed by prefixing 'anti-' to 'desiccant'.

Initially the elements meant 'against drying' (literally 'counteracting desiccation'); over time the compound came to denote specifically 'a substance applied to prevent moisture loss', i.e., a product used to reduce plant wilting or material drying.