'antipragmaticism' originates from Greek and Late Latin elements: the Greek prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against', the Greek root 'pragmatikos' (from 'pragma') meaning 'deed, thing', and the suffix '-ism' (via Latin '-ismus') denoting 'doctrine or system'.

'antipragmaticism' was formed in modern English by compounding 'anti-' + 'pragmatic' + '-ism'. 'Pragmatic' entered English via Late Latin 'pragmaticus' and Old French 'pragmatique', ultimately from Greek 'pragmatikos'.

Coined to mean 'a doctrine of opposing pragmatic approaches', the term has retained this specific sense as a label for opposition to pragmatism rather than acquiring a substantially different meaning.