'antinode' originates from the combining form 'anti-' from Greek 'antí' meaning 'against' or 'opposite', and 'node' from Latin 'nodus' meaning 'knot' (via English 'node').

'node' came into English from Latin 'nodus' (knot); 'antinode' was formed in English by combining 'anti-' with 'node' to label the point opposite a node in wave theory (19th century usage in physics).

Initially coined to denote the point opposite a 'node' in the context of wave patterns; it has retained this specific physical meaning as 'point of maximum displacement' in standing waves.