'antipatriarchy' originates from English, formed by the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek ἀντί, meaning 'against') combined with 'patriarchy' (from Greek πατριαρχία, patriarkhia, meaning 'rule of fathers').

'patriarchy' entered English via Latin 'patriarchia' and Old French 'patriarchie', originally from Greek 'patriarkhia'; 'antipatriarchy' is a modern English compound coined in contexts of feminist and social-justice discourse in the 20th century.

Originally, 'patriarchy' meant 'rule of fathers' (literal paternal authority); over time it broadened to mean 'a social system in which men hold primary power.' 'Antipatriarchy' initially signified opposition to paternal rule and has come to denote broader opposition to male-dominated systems and norms.