'antioxidize' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with 'oxidize' (from 'oxide' + '-ize'), where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'oxidize' related to 'oxide' (from Greek elements referring to 'acid'/'sharp' via 'oxys').

'antioxidize' was formed in modern English by combining 'anti-' and the verb 'oxidize' (itself coming into English via French/Modern Latin forms related to 'oxide'); the compound became used in scientific and industrial contexts in the 20th century and produced participial forms such as 'antioxidizing'.

Initially the components meant 'against' + 'forming oxide' (i.e., opposing oxidation); over time the compound has come to mean more generally 'to protect from oxidation' or 'to give antioxidant properties', a sense that has been stable in technical usage.