'antipollution' originates from Modern English, specifically the combination of the prefix 'anti-' and the noun 'pollution', where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'pollution' ultimately comes from Latin 'pollutio' meaning 'defilement'.

'pollution' comes from Latin 'pollutio' (from the verb 'polluere' meaning 'to soil, to defile'), passed into Old French as 'pollucion' and into Middle English as 'pollucion/pollution'; the prefix 'anti-' comes from Greek 'anti-' (via Latin and Old French) and was combined with 'pollution' in Modern English to form 'antipollution'.

Initially related to the idea 'against defilement', the compound evolved to mean 'against environmental pollution' and is now used for measures or things intended to prevent or reduce pollution.