'antiheliotropic' originates from Modern English, specifically the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti') meaning 'against' and the element 'heliotropic' from Greek 'hēlios' ("sun") + 'tropos' ("turn").

'antiheliotropic' was formed in Modern English by combining the prefix 'anti-' with the established scientific term 'heliotropic' (from Greek roots via New Latin/Modern scientific coinage), creating a compound meaning 'against turning toward the sun.'

Initially, the root 'heliotropic' referred to 'turning toward the sun'; the compound 'antiheliotropic' came to mean 'turning away from the sun' or 'exhibiting negative heliotropism.'