'antiliturgist' is formed in modern English from the prefix 'anti-' and 'liturgist'. 'anti-' ultimately comes from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against', and 'liturgist' derives from 'liturgy' (from Greek 'leitourgia').

'liturgist' comes from 'liturgy', which entered English via Late Latin 'liturgia' and Old French 'liturgie' from Greek 'leitourgia' ('leit-' meaning 'people' or 'public' + 'ergon' meaning 'work'), and the modern English compound 'antiliturgist' developed by adding the productive prefix 'anti-'.

The elements originally referred to 'public service' (Greek 'leitourgia') and 'against' (Greek 'anti-'); combined in modern usage the term has come to mean 'one who is against liturgy' or 'an opponent of liturgical forms'.