'antipathogen' originates from Greek elements combined in Modern English: the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek anti- 'against') and 'pathogen' (from New Latin/Greek), where 'path-' (from Greek 'pathos') meant 'suffering, disease' and '-gen' (from Greek 'genēs/genic') meant 'to produce or generate'.

'antipathogen' was formed in Modern English by combining 'anti-' with the already established scientific word 'pathogen' (which entered English via New Latin from Greek elements 'pathos' + '-genēs'). The compound is a modern coinage used in scientific and medical contexts.

Initially coined to mean 'against disease-causing organisms,' the term's core meaning has remained essentially the same, denoting agents or properties that prevent or destroy pathogens.