'antiproliferative' originates from a combination of Greek and Latin elements: the Greek prefix 'anti-' (originally 'anti', meaning 'against') and the Latin verb 'proliferare' (from 'proles' meaning 'offspring' and 'ferre' meaning 'to bear'), forming a term meaning 'against producing/bringing forth'.

'proliferare' in Latin (literally 'to bear offspring') passed into later scientific and medical Latin and then into English as 'proliferate' and 'proliferative'; the prefix 'anti-' was attached in modern English to form 'antiproliferative' to denote opposition to proliferation.

Initially related to 'bearing offspring' or 'producing new growth' (from Latin 'proles'/'proliferare'), the root evolved to refer to rapid multiplication of cells; with the addition of 'anti-' the modern term means 'preventing or inhibiting that multiplication.'