'antiflatulent' originates from the combining form of Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against' and the English adjective 'flatulent', which derives from Latin 'flatus' meaning 'a blowing, puff' (gas).

'flatulent' comes from Latin 'flatus' → Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'flatulentus' (full of wind) → Middle/Modern English 'flatulent'; the modern English compound 'antiflatulent' was formed by adding Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' to 'flatulent'.

Initially related to the Latin idea of 'blowing' or 'a blast' (flatus), the term evolved to describe gas in the digestive tract; 'antiflatulent' therefore developed to mean 'against or preventing such gas', a meaning that has been retained in modern usage.