'antigonococcal' originates from a Neo-Latin/modern scientific formation, specifically from the Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' (meaning 'against') combined with 'Gonococcus' (from Neo-Latin 'Gonococcus', itself from Greek 'gonos' meaning 'seed' or 'semen' and 'kokkos' meaning 'berry'), plus the adjectival suffix '-al'.

'Gonococcus' was coined in Neo-Latin in the late 19th century following the identification of the bacterium; English formed 'gonococcal' as the adjectival form, and 'antigonococcal' was later formed by adding the prefix 'anti-' to denote action against the gonococcus.

Initially it literally meant 'against the gonococcus'; over time it has remained a specialized medical adjective meaning 'effective against or inhibitory to Neisseria gonorrhoeae'.