'antimodern' originates from combining the Greek prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' and the adjective 'modern,' which comes from Latin 'modernus' (ultimately from modo, 'just now' or 'recently').

'modern' entered English via Late Latin 'modernus' (from modo 'just now'); 'antimodern' is a later English formation that combines 'anti-' + 'modern' and appears in usage from the 19th–20th century to describe opposition to modernity or modernism.

Initially a straightforward compound meaning 'against the modern,' it has remained largely consistent, used to describe opposition to modern ideas, styles, or cultural changes, though nuance can range from conservative reaction to aesthetic preference for older styles.