'antioxygenator' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') + 'oxygen' (from French 'oxygène' coined from Greek elements 'oxys' 'acid' + 'genes' 'producer') + the agentive suffix '-ator' (from Latin '-ator' used in English to form nouns meaning 'one who/that which performs').

'oxygen' entered scientific English in the late 18th century from French 'oxygène' (coined by Lavoisier), 'anti-' has been used as a combining form from Greek via Latin and French, and the agentive English formation with '-ator' developed through Latin and French influence into modern English; these elements were combined in Modern English to create 'antioxygenator'.

Initially the constituents separately meant 'against' (anti-), and 'oxygen' referred to the chemical element named in the 18th century; combined in Modern English the coinage 'antioxygenator' has come to mean 'a substance or device that prevents or removes oxygen,' a specialized technical sense.