'antifeudalism' originates from Modern English, formed by combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') with 'feudalism' (see below).

'feudalism' traces back to Medieval Latin 'feudalis' (relating to a 'feudum' or 'fief'), passed into Old French (e.g. 'feodal/feodale') and then into English as 'feudal' + the suffix '-ism' to form 'feudalism'; later, English formed 'antifeudalism' by adding 'anti-' to indicate opposition.

Initially it referred specifically to opposition to medieval feudal institutions and privileges; over time the term has also been used more broadly for opposition to analogous hierarchical landlord-dominated or patrimonial systems and for movements favoring egalitarian reforms.