'antiliturgical' originates from modern English composition of the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') and the adjective 'liturgical' (from Late Latin 'liturgicus' and Greek 'leitourgia', meaning 'public service' or 'work for the people').

'leitourgia' in Greek passed into Late Latin as 'liturgia' and Medieval/Latin ecclesiastical usage produced 'liturgical' in English; the modern compound 'antiliturgical' was formed by adding the prefix 'anti-' to 'liturgical' in English to indicate opposition to liturgy.

Initially the Greek root 'leitourgia' referred to 'public service' or 'service performed for the people'; over time the English formation 'antiliturgical' came to mean specifically 'opposed to established liturgical worship' rather than a general opposition to public service.