'antilegomena' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ἀντιλεγόμενα' (antilegomena), where the prefix 'ἀντί' ('anti-') meant 'against' and the root 'λέγειν' ('legein' / 'légō') meant 'to speak' or 'to say'.

'antilegomena' passed into Late Latin/Medieval Latin as 'antilegomena' and then entered English usage (mainly in theological and scholarly contexts) retaining the plural Greek form 'antilegomena'.

Initially it meant 'things spoken against' (literally), particularly referring to disputed books; over time it became a technical term for 'disputed or controversial writings', especially in discussions of biblical canon.