'antipoverty' is a compound formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', meaning 'against') and 'poverty' (from Old French/Latin 'paupertas', meaning 'poverty' or 'the state of being poor').

'Anti-' as a productive English prefix from Greek combined with the noun 'poverty' in modern English usage (20th century) to form the compound adjective and noun 'antipoverty' (often seen hyphenated as 'anti-poverty').

Initially built from elements meaning 'against' + 'poverty', the compound came to be used specifically for policies, programs, and measures aimed at reducing poverty; its meaning has remained focused on opposition to or reduction of poverty.