'antilapsarianism' originates from Neo-Latin/English formation, specifically built from the adjective 'antilapsarian' plus the noun-forming suffix '-ism'; 'anti-' was used as a combining element referencing relation/opposition and Latin 'lapsus' meant 'a fall'.

'antilapsarianism' developed by combining 'anti-' with 'lapsarian' (from Latin 'lapsus' → medieval theological Latin formations) and adding English '-ism'; the component 'lapsarian' itself came into theological use as a way to speak about the Fall ('lapsus' = 'fall').

Initially the components signified 'against or with reference to the fall', and over time the compound came to denote the specific theological stance about the order of divine decrees relative to the Fall.