'antipragmatic' originates from Greek and modern English elements: the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti') meaning 'against', combined with 'pragmatic' (from Greek 'pragmatikos') meaning 'concerned with action or business'.

'pragmatic' changed from Greek 'pragmatikos' to Late Latin 'pragmaticus' and entered English as 'pragmatic'; the adjective 'antipragmatic' was formed later in modern English by adding the prefix 'anti-' to 'pragmatic'.

Initially, elements meant 'against' and 'concerned with action'; over time the compound came to mean 'against practical or pragmatic approaches' and is used to describe attitudes or positions that oppose practicality.