'antiembryonic' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') and 'embryonic' (from Greek 'embryon' meaning 'young one' or 'embryo').

'antiembryonic' changed from the Greek element 'embryon' to Latin 'embryo', passed into Middle English as 'embryo' and developed into the adjective 'embryonic'; the adjective was then combined with the productive prefix 'anti-' to form 'antiembryonic' in modern English.

Initially formed simply as a compound meaning 'against embryos' or 'against embryonic things', it came to be used specifically for agents or conditions that inhibit embryo development ('inhibiting embryogenesis').