'antipharisaic' originates from the combining form of the Greek prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' and 'Pharisaic' (from 'Pharisee'), which itself comes from Greek 'Pharisaios' and Hebrew 'perushim' meaning 'separated ones'.

'antipharisaic' formed by combining 'anti-' + 'Pharisaic' (the adjective derived from 'Pharisee'); 'Pharisaic' dates from earlier English usage referring to the Pharisees, and the compounded adjective 'antipharisaic' has been used to denote opposition to Pharisees or Pharisaic attitudes.

Initially it referred specifically to opposition to the Pharisees (the Jewish sect); over time it broadened to describe opposition to or criticism of Pharisee-like hypocrisy and self-righteousness in general.