'antimeningococcic' originates from modern medical New Latin/English formation, combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against'), the noun 'meningococcus' (from Greek 'meninx' meaning 'membrane' + 'coccus' meaning 'berry' for spherical bacteria), and the adjectival suffix '-ic' (from Greek/Latin forming adjectives meaning 'pertaining to').

'meningococcus' was coined in the late 19th century to name the bacterium causing meningitis; the adjective 'antimeningococcic' was formed later in medical usage by adding the prefix 'anti-' and the suffix '-ic' to denote an agent or property acting against that bacterium.

Initially it meant 'against meningococci'; over time the term has retained this specialized medical meaning referring to substances or actions that prevent or counteract meningococcal infection.