'antipatriotism' is a modern English formation combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') with 'patriotism' (from French 'patriotisme' and earlier Latin/Greek roots related to 'fatherland' and 'fellow countryman').

'patriotism' comes into English via French 'patriotisme' and Latin/Greek 'patriota'/'patriōtēs' (meaning 'fellow countryman' or relating to one's 'patris', fatherland). The compound 'anti-' + 'patriotism' was then formed in modern English to denote opposition to that concept.

The elements originally conveyed 'against' (anti-) and 'devotion to one's fatherland' (patriotism); combined, the term has meant 'opposition to patriotism' since its formation and has retained that basic sense.