'antimeristem' originates from the prefix 'anti-' from Greek and the noun 'meristem' (from New Latin/Greek); specifically 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'meristos' (the Greek root behind 'meristem') meant 'divided'.

'antimeristem' is a modern compound formed in botanical usage by combining the Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' with 'meristem' (New Latin < Greek 'meristos'), rather than evolving through an older English form.

The components originally referred simply to 'against' and 'divided'; combined in modern botanical coinage they denote a concept of being 'against' or 'opposing' a dividing tissue, i.e., a structure that counteracts meristematic activity.